Gallerist Mawen Ong, art educator Janice Liuson-Young, and collector Andrew Tung Borlongan highlight 18 Chinese-Filipino artists shaping contemporary visual culture dragonara casino online

 

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Unemployment among young people and college graduates jumped from 13.2% in June to 17.1% in July, as some 12 million students entered the labour market, before the August figure rose to its highest level since the National Bureau of Statistics decided to change the methodology to not include students in December 2023.

The Philippines has always been a swirling cauldron of cultures, languages, and ethnicities. From the nation’s earliest indigenous roots to the layers of Spanish, Chinese, American, Arab, and even Japanese influence, we have an identity that is anything but monolithic. This extends to business, fashion, gastronomy, architecture, film, and notably, in the works of Chinese-Filipino artists, where brushstrokes often imply dialogues between past and present, East and West, tradition and innovation.

Building on the indelible cultural contributions of Tsinoy visual artists like National Artist Ang Kiukok, Ting Ping Lay, Julius Limpe, Charlie Co, Lao Lianben, and Junyee, a new wave of Chinese-Filipino contemporary visual artists is surging forward. Photos from the Ateneo Art Gallery, National Museum of the Philippines, Philippine Center New York, Charlie Co, Blanc Gallery, Galleria Duemila

The new wave of Chinese-Filipino contemporary artists are actively participating in fusing two worlds—one steeped in tradition and the other grappling with the frantic cadence of contemporary life.

As we usher in the Year of the Snake this Lunar New Year, three Tsinoy movers within the Philippine art scene name 18 artists who are shaping visual culture today, with 18 being an auspicious number in Chinese culture that symbolizes a future of wealth and success. 

Mawen Ong, visual artist, and gallerist behind MO_Space; Janice Liuson-Young, visual artist and associate dean of the FEATI University School of Fine Arts; and Andrew Tung Borlongan, businessman and established collector of Philippine contemporary art, each named six Chinese-Filipino visual artists we should know more about in 2025.

Janice Liuson-Young, Associate Dean of the FEATI University School of Fine Arts; Mawen Ong, gallerist behind MO_Space; and Andrew Tung Borlongan, established collector of Philippine contemporary art. Portraits provided by Janice Liuson-Young, Mawen Ong, and Andrew Tung Borlongan

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Mawen Ong: A gallerist’s perspective 

“My thinking is that many of us Chinese-Filipino artists are no longer as conscious of being Chinese or Fil-Chi, especially when we’re creating art. This is because our influences come from a global context now. Since most of us are second or third-generation ethnic Chinese, or have ancestors with Chinese heritage, it doesn’t really feel relevant to say, ‘I’m Chinese and I’m making this work.’

The Filipino identity itself is already a product of numerous cross-influences, not to mention the ethnic DNA that defines what it truly means to be Filipino.

For me, my starting point in art was formalistic Chinese painting, taught by a professor from China in the ’80s. But the practice and philosophy of Chinese art aren’t as present or relevant to how contemporary artists are exposed today. Our curriculum is Western.” 

– Mawen Ong, visual artist and gallerist behind MO_Space

 

Jonathan Ching  Jonathan Ching. Photo by Jojo Gloria for Art Fair Philippines

“Jonathan Ching’s practice reflects his response to his personal history as a Chinese-Filipino visual artist. He has created paintings of the wilted flowers his mother offered to Kuan Yin, a series that carries a universal theme—flowers that could very well be offerings to the Lady of Fatima or to someone else. Like Jonathan, each artist on my list responds to the unique environments they’ve been exposed to, though not necessarily in relation to their Chinese ancestry or roots.”

 

Gerry Tan Gerry Tan. Photo by Bert Antonio

“One of my favorite artists, Gerry Tan wears many hats, from curator to former dean and professor. He articulates his ideas through painting, photography, and various media, referencing art history and his early work to imbue them with new meanings and create new possibilities. His works always raise questions in my mind, and I learn something new every time.” 

 

MM Yu MM Yu. Photo from Silverlens

“I have known MM Yu for more than two decades. The special way she sees the world is revealed in her photographs, with elements framed and composed like a painting. With decades of consistently photographing life wherever she goes, MM Yu has accumulated a vast body of work, documenting urban life and the marks we have made on our environment. She continues to capture it all with her unique perspective.” 

 

Mariano Ching Mariano Ching. Photo from Finale Art File

“Mariano Ching’s body of work has always interested me as it depicts a world of the whimsical and sometimes a dystopian landscape. His paintings, sculptures, and objects bring to life science fiction themes I used to love reading. There is a sense of being transported to a familiar but different world, which is why I love looking at art.” 

 

Miguel Lorenzo Uy and Celine Lee  Miguel Lorenzo Uy

“I admire these two emerging artists for producing highly distinctive works despite working closely together. Both are undoubtedly challenging the boundaries of art and our perception of it. Miguel addresses global issues that affect his position as an artist, while Celine explores an existential perspective, questioning what is real and what is not.

Celine Lee. Photo by Bianca Cruz

Whether in the form of painting, sound art, installations, or mixed media, their individual works and exhibitions continue to capture my attention and provoke my thoughts.”

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An Art Educator’s Take: Janice Liuson-Young

“The Chinese-Filipino artist is first and foremost a Filipino artist. Hence he or she is also heir to all the vicissitudes that befall the latter—the constant negotiation and reinterpretation of  Philippine contemporary art’s multifaceted heritage, diverse histories, and influences. 

However, while the Filipino artist will often be grappling primarily with questions of identity as a main concern, the Chinese-Filipino will additionally be struggling with questions of acceptance, belonging, and loyalties. Or home, if you will.

I believe that this tension inherent in the situation of the Chinese-Filipino artists makes their work uniquely relevant and resonant within our national conversation on contemporary art and culture.”

 

Valerie Chua Valerie Chua

“Valerie Chua’s work speaks with a quiet power that emerges from her meticulous attention to detail and her deep engagement with color and form, particularly the human figure. Her mastery of figuration and her innovative use of a refreshing contemporary palette create spaces within the canvas that feel both fragmented and whole, a delicate balance that reflects a thoughtful, almost meditative process. Beyond the work itself, Valerie’s contribution to the art community—particularly through her role in co-founding Faculty Projects—speaks to a commitment to nurturing the broader creative landscape.”

 

Nicole Coson Nicole Coson. Photo from Silverlens

“Nicole Coson’s large-scale prints capture the ‘shell’ of objects, reflecting her keen observation of the mundane. Her recent works serve as physical records of her urban surroundings in London, akin to fossilization, preserving the memory of objects often overlooked in daily life.”

 

Ayka Go Ayka Go. Photo by JT Fernandez

“Ayka Go continues to inspire awe with her depictions of crumpled, torn, folded, and stitched papers. Her mastery in capturing the tonal values of paper, tape, and thread, along with her ability to transform these elements into visually compelling compositions, never fails to amaze. What sets her recent works apart, however, is her focus on the personal issues surrounding her own body and her experience as a woman grappling with a serious medical condition. Her poetic approach to addressing such a deeply personal struggle is truly inspiring.”

 

Clarence Chun Clarence Chun

“Clarence Chun’s body of work stands out for its cohesive interplay of precise sweeping strokes and spontaneous bursts of color, creating a distinctive visual language. As a Chinese-Filipino artist with formal training in the United States, his work reflects a nuanced fusion of Eastern and Western cultural influences. Having had the privilege of curating his work in an exhibition last year, I can attest to his collaborative nature and his high aptitude in the visual arts in general.”

 

Leeroy New Leeroy New. Photo by Patrick de Veyra

“Leeroy New’s body of work is shaped by his passion for myth-making and world-building. An English, Tagalog, Bisaya, and Hokkien-speaking Chinese-Filipino multidisciplinary artist raised in GenSan and educated at the Philippine High School for the Arts and UPCFA, his immersive installations and rich, otherworldly visual language fuse pre-colonial Philippine mythology with elements of science fiction. Having curated one of his works as part of a survey exhibition of Chinese-Filipino contemporary art last year, I can say that Leeroy’s unique upbringing and experiences have enabled him to constantly break barriers in the visual arts, fashion design, film, and pop culture.”

 

Aze Ong Aze Ong. Photo by Jojo Gloria

“Aze Ong’s work creates a quiet, yet profound space where fiber, energy, and ancient wisdom intersect. Through threads, yarns, and fibers, she weaves environments that connect the physical and the metaphysical, inviting the viewer into an otherworldly space of transformation. Having had the privilege of curating Aze’s work, I’ve seen how she has established a distinct and irreplaceable presence in the Philippine art scene, continually pushing the limits of what fiber art can express.”

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Collector insights: Andrew Tung Borlongan

“My Philippine contemporary art appreciation journey is somewhat independent of my being Filipino-Chinese. Yes, it may influence some of my choices, but only to a certain aesthetic level. I feel that my background in advertising and media is what guides me more through art. 

My main criteria are the work’s concept and how well it cuts across. I have always been a fan of MM Yu, Gerry Tan, Celine Lee, and Miguel Lorenzo Uy. I also love how Lindslee, Lou Lim, Christina Lopez, Julieanne Ng, Nicole Tee, and Tiffany Lafuente are pushing the boundaries of art across different concepts, mediums, and technologies.” 

–Andrew Tung Borlongan, businessman and collector of Philippine contemporary art 

 

Lindslee Lindslee. Photos from West Gallery and ALT

“There is always a sense of excitement and curiosity whenever I hear that Lindslee will be having a show. From his cake and spaghetti paintings, which are unbelievably made with acrylic paint, to his well-finished giant sculptures of humans, bread, and crackers, there is always a resounding idea. Whether grounded in wit or social commentary, his surreal execution is on point.” 

 

Christina Lopez Christina Lopez. Photo by Jovel Lorenzo

“I admire how Christina Lopez’s body of work in new media fuses both her knowledge of data and technology to her selected visual output. One of my favorite shows was when she won the 2021 Ateneo Art Awards for her artwork that had an algorithm to create new portraits from images of paid trolls, reminding us of our responsibility when it comes to use of technology.”

 

Nicole Tee Nicole Tee. Photo by MM Yu

“Form, pattern, texture, and the process of getting there are why Nicole Tee is impressive across various mediums. Disciplined even in the smallest repetitive details, whether painting, threadwork, cutting and folding, or photography, her works have the ability to impact a multitude of viewers with different interests in art.”

 

Julieanne Ng Julieanne Ng

“Incense burning with fingerprints on paper and candle prints on canvas are some art-making methods I’ve never come across before meeting Julieanne Ng. The artist’s work is also a reflection of her culture and religious heritage. As a viewer, I find her focus on the repetition of patterns to form a big picture to be therapeutic to the eye and soul.”

 

Lou Lim Lou Lim

“One of my favorite series by Lou is when she would first create an oil-on-canvas painting. Afterward, she would use silicone to make a cast of the painting’s surface, capturing her brush strokes. That silicone would then be used for intaglio oil printing, where she would stamp it onto unprimed linen. I have always been in awe of how one oil painting can give birth to multiple artworks. It is such an experience to see how some of her unique works with different collectors are actually closely related to one another.”

 

Tiffany Lafuente  Tiffany Lafuente. Photo from the artist’s Instagram account

“As an art enthusiast, I have yet to own a work by Tiffany Lafuente, but seeing her works on exhibit always catches my attention. Whether it is the painterly juxtaposition of opposing themes or just plain wit, her surrealistic work will always evoke a reaction and feeling from the viewer.”

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Whether through MM Yu’s documentary photography, Leeroy New’s otherworldly installations, or Christina Lopez’s technology-driven pieces, each artist contributes to an evolving narrative of what it means to be both Chinese and Filipino in today’s world.

The wave of contemporary Chinese-Filipino visual artists is surging forward—bold8mbets, restless, thoughtful, and unafraid to push boundaries. Their work reflects a constant negotiation of identity, belonging, and innovation, exemplifying how the Chinese-Filipino community doesn’t just live in the spaces between cultures, but reshapes them.