Careful What You Pray For
Careful What You Pray For is an intricate construction bridging the metaphysical and material, where the organic and the elemental converge in a dialogue of symbolic resonance. Encased in seven glass tanks, a diverse array of materials—rose, chrysanthemum, lotus seed hearts, driftwood, cowry shells, and volcanic rock, among others—come together as a luminous testament to the complex layers of Anitismo, the traditional Indigenous belief system of the precolonial Filipinos, centered around the veneration of spirits, deities, and ancestors. The materials, drawn from the plant, animal, and mineral kingdoms, were chosen not only for their aesthetic beauty but for their rich spiritual significance, as nature is a conduit for ancestral spirits and divine forces.
Each element in the work has its own resonance. Flowers, associated with love and protection, are vessels of energy, channeling blessings from the spirit realm. Cowry shells, once used as currency, speak to the exchange of energies—prayers and desires made manifest. The lava rock and stone, grounded and enduring, evoke the earth's ancient wisdom and power. Although Anitismo was largely overshadowed by Catholicism after Spanish colonization, many aspects of the belief system persist in Filipino culture today, often blending with Christian practices and forming a syncretic spiritual worldview. These materials, suspended in glass, are simultaneously protected and isolated, maintaining a delicate balance between reverence and distance—an acknowledgement of the sacred that is both intimate and unattainable.
The title Careful What You Pray For prompts a reflection on the potency of ritual and intention. Prayers and offerings are not mere acts of supplication but invitations to the metaphysical world—requests that may be answered in ways both expected and unforeseen. The glass tanks act as both preservers and barriers, framing these prayers within a static, controlled environment, yet allowing the materials' natural decay to suggest the inescapable flux of life. Thus, Careful What You Pray For is a meditation on the fragile yet powerful nature of human desire, reminding us that the very things we seek often come with their own complexities and consequences.
Rose, Forget Me Not, Fig, Lemon, Chrysanthemum, Sophora Japonica, Lotus Seed Hearts, Lavender, Gomphrena, Albizia, Jasmine, Passion Flower, Lemongrass, Mallow Flower, Lily, Marigold, Peony, Red Plum Flower, Pine Straw, Stone, Lava Rock, Goose Down, Cotton, Cowry Shells, Merino Horn, Driftwood, Rice, contained in glass.