Lost in dreamland

MANILA, Philippines - There is a mysticism about dreaming that is rather endearing. It’s the idea that we cannot fully understand what dreams mean. They occur in a different timeframe, the characters are not always human, conversations take place in languages we cannot understand, filled with symbolism that we crave to decipher, thinking of its relevance to our life. Is it the subconscious trying to tell us something, or a spirit conveying a message? Oftentimes, dreams reveal neither none.

Twenty-four-year-old Tokwa Peñaflorida, who is rising as one of the city’s favored illustrators, tries to capture this mysticism in his first show entitled “Hypnagogia: Brink of Sleep.” Hypnagogia, a term referring to the state where you are almost asleep, is a series of delicate, feminine and unearthly portraits of gorgeous sprites and spirits with their long lush hair and deep, harrowing eyes. The women in his works, always portraying a subtle sensuality, are like characters pulled out of an unabridged fairy-tale.

Each piece is imbued with different cultural concepts of dreams: the batibat from Philippine folklore, or the dreamcatcher of the Native Americans. In Tokwa’s works, these women in their dreamlike states pull us in, as if enchanting us to with their beauty like alluring sirens, but only to reveal a darker, deeper story within.

 Tokwa, who quit his day job in advertising to become a full-time artist, shares with Young STAR his venture into art, and describes for us what the distinctive spirited women of his artworks are like. 



YOUNG STAR: I feel like it’s rare today, especially in this slasher generation, that we have artists who are just 100-percent dedicated to doing art. How has your experience been as a full-time artist?


TOKWA PENAFLORIDA: Though one must still master the art of smiling and nodding while ignoring the remarks of skeptical relatives, the art scene in the Philippines these past few years has been growing, and it’s really inspiring how many new artists are emerging and how supportive of the arts the Filipinos are today. Being an artist is not just a hobby, it’s a profession, a career, just like doctors and lawyers.

How did you come to discover the medium that fits you best?


What I really love about doing traditional art is that it’s tangible. It’s always an original piece and that there is no “alt+z”s. I’m really more of a mixed media artist though. Watercolor is my main weapon of choice, but it’s very rare that I do an artwork where I only use one medium. It’s always a combination of acrylics, graphite, ink, colored pencils, gouache — just anything I can get my hands on.



How did you develop your specific style of your work? 


I think from a pastiche of inspirations and art idols. I love Alphonse Mucha, Klimt, Schiele and Dave McKean. I also love children’s book illustrations, Japanese pop art, Pokemon, Digimon, and ancient bestiary. I’m also attracted to melancholic things. I’m inspired by existing literature like: poems, lyrics of a song, stories, and Wikipedia articles. I think the weird combination of my interests and inspirations shows in my work. There must be something absurd happening. If there is none, then I don’t think I’m communicating my thoughts well enough.

Many artists have defined themselves through characterizing the woman in different ways. What can you say about the Tokwa woman?


The Tokwa woman is crazy, unpredictable, romantic, and otherworldly. They are not afraid to show their vulnerability, but you do not want to mess with them. They are always, in their dream world, escapists.



What inspired the theme for your first show?


I came across hypnagogia while I was researching (self-diagnosing) about my sleeping problems, the audial and visual hallucinations, the falling sensation, and the dreams I get when I’m not fully asleep yet. Sleep doesn’t come easy to me because I always have this barrage of thoughts at night. I think it’s very apt for my first show to be something about that state where my concepts usually come from.



What’s the most memorable dream you have had?


I actually have a piece entitled “Recurrence.” It’s about a recurring dream that started when I was a kid and still dream about today. It’s about a princess-like girl, she holds a very long needle. She lives in this castle made of crystals and diamonds. She wears a long, white, sheer gown and everything is like silk. All white, bright and shimmery. She pokes her finger with the needle and everything decays and turns into rust.



I also dream a lot about me being a ninja. (Laughs) Sorry, ang hipster ng castle, pero totoo yun.



Do you think it means anything? 


No. Except that as a kid super takot ako sa blood and needles maybe. I think medyo dahil din sa “Okey Ka Fairy Ko.”

What can people expect from your show?


It’s like a peephole into the insides of my brain. I want them to come and see it for themselves. 


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“Hypnagogia: Brink of Sleep” will exhibit on April 6, 2013 at 8 p.m.  in Vinyl on Vinyl (The Collective, 7274 Malugay Street, Makati City). Follow Tokwa’s blog on http://tokwap.tumblr.com/