Our series “A Day in the Life” is a documentation of creative process straight from the artists themselves. Submit your feature request through thriveartorg@gmail.com.
Yanni Ysabel is an artist who lives and works in Iloilo. Grounded on themes of gender and sexuality, Yanni’s artworks are expression of her commentaries on the prevailing narratives, a way of fleshing out her experiences vis-a-vis the Ilonggo traditions, and most of all an exploration of her own identity.
This painting addresses two “taboo” topics for Filipina women. In a patriarchal society, we are discouraged from discussing two very normal experiences: menstruation and masturbation (or sex). Though considered “dirty” or “vulgar” for women, the same prejudice does not apply to men. Masturbation is considered normal for men, and it even boosts their machismo. What is condoned among men is condemned among women. I wanted to portray these two things while simultaneously rooting them in Catholicism, as this predominant religion is one of the archetypes of patriarchy; it is rooted in a hierarchical structure dominated by men and God “the Father.”
Through this painting, I wanted to deconstruct Philippine patriarchy. The title “Juice Ko Lord” and the rosary made of menstrual fluid demystify the “unclean” perception of menstruation and masturbation among women. This menstrual flow, perceived as “unholy,” ironically had the potential to become “holy” fruit. I wonder why we shy away from it, when, unfertilized, we all would have been just menstrual flow.
I like the symbolism of the fruit and the bleeding rosary that spurts from it. It seems so bold, yet both are clean images combined in an unorthodox manner.
I’m currently an architecture student, so most days I get up to prepare for my classes. I skirt around my messy floor: paint, technical pens, drafts, notebooks. I have a light breakfast (usually boiled eggs to save time), brush my teeth, and then prepare for my bath. I put on my uniform and make sure my bag has everything I need before I leave. Depending on my schedule, I usually finish before 9:00 AM and commute or ride my bike to school, barely in time for my 10:00 AM classes.
At the end of the week, I usually start working on an artwork in the evening until the early hours of the next day. I start by writing down a concept and sketching it out roughly in my worn-out sketchbook, which I bring everywhere in case an idea comes up. I start at the end of the day so I can focus on my artwork and get into a good rhythm, because I find that breaking that “flow state” discourages me from ever finishing the piece.
Something I find interesting about this kind of day, as I have a lot of them, is that art always seems to be something I put last. I don’t think I intentionally put it last, though; I feel like I’m just subscribing to multiple systems that force me to put my art last. If I had the freedom, I’d be a full-time artist, and my days and weeks would be very different. My morning routine might be something out of an Instagram reel in that scenario.
“Atraso” is a word with two meanings: “delay” and “wrongdoing”. Aligned with the theme “Sinamo”, I wanted to show how we are an amalgamation of both lived experience and nature. There is no singular and conventional timeline of life. Each one is unique, though they do exhibit overlapping or similar patterns.
The candle evokes Filipino nostalgia and invites the viewer to take their time. It reminds the viewer that they are on their own timeline, and that “delays” on the conventional path of life are no existent and are self-imposed. Overall, the painting bears a simple message: each person is an amalgamation of nature and nurture; this is each person’s “sinamo”. My favorite part about this painting is that I was actually rushing to finish it, and thankfully, the medium I used was acrylic. It dried quickly and in time, even though the entire thing was rooted on “being in your own timeline,” or your own “journey,” I don’t think it takes away from the message though, it’s just a personal irony I indulge in.
All photos courtesy of the artist.
