#ArtPH - Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan: Telling History Through Art, One Print at a Time
For Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan, art isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a way of understanding the world, of digging into the layers of history and culture that shape who we are. As one of this year’s recipients of the prestigious CCP Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA), she’s using her creative voice to explore the stories behind everyday objects and the deeper narratives they carry.
But her journey to becoming a full-time artist wasn’t always a straight path.
From Numbers to Narratives
Henrielle almost chose accountancy over art, thinking it would offer more financial stability. But a last-minute decision to take the Talent Determination Test at the UP College of Fine Arts changed everything. “I really wanted to pursue Fine Arts, but I hesitated,” she shares. “In the end, I decided to follow Fine Arts, thinking I could always consider another career path if it didn’t work out.”
That leap of faith paid off. Today, her work blends natural history illustration, taxonomy, and printmaking to document both personal and historical narratives—transforming the mundane into meaningful reflections of Philippine identity.
A Thoughtful Approach to Artmaking
Henrielle’s creative process is rooted in curiosity. She starts with broad ideas, then refines them through research, sketching, and conversations with peers and mentors. It’s a cycle of exploration and problem-solving that keeps her work grounded and evolving.
Her upcoming exhibit at the National Museum of the Philippines—part of the TAA showcase—is still in the planning stages, but she hints at a site-responsive piece that will engage with the museum’s collection. “I plan to explore the collection through prints and illustrations,” she says. “This will allow me to reflect my ongoing artistic themes in a new context.”
Staying Grounded in a Noisy World
In an age of information overload, Henrielle admits that one of the biggest challenges is filtering through the noise. “It’s easy to get overwhelmed because everything is competing for our attention,” she explains. Her solution? Focus on what’s immediate—deadlines, current projects, and the themes that matter most to her right now.
Redefining Success
For Henrielle, success isn’t about fame or fortune—it’s about authenticity. “A successful artist, to me, means striving to commit to authenticity by addressing issues that resonate with both ourselves and society,” she says. It’s a message she hopes will inspire young artists to follow what genuinely sparks their interest and trust that their path will unfold from there.
Henrielle joins a powerful lineup of creatives in this year’s CCP Thirteen Artists Awards, a program that has been spotlighting bold, boundary-pushing Filipino artists since 1970. As she prepares for her next big exhibit, her story is a reminder that art can be both personal and political, intimate and expansive—and that sometimes, the most meaningful work begins with simply choosing to stay true to yourself.
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