The Filipino in Me - Insights into Living Heritage
Entry by Harvey Nichol. Calgary, Alberta
Apolaki (God of the Sun)
Apolaki is the God of war and the sun, he is the son of bathala, (the supreme deity of the Tagalogs) and the patron of all warriors. It is said that when Bathala went into deep slumber, Apolaki fought his sister Mayari (goddess of the moon & goddess of war) for dominion over the Earth. Their battle resulted in a truce after Apolaki blinded Mayari in one eye. And so they decided to divide their rule with Mayari ruling the night, Apolaki ruling the day.
Medium: PLA filaments: cornstarch based & aerosol, acrylic
About the Artist
Harvey Nichol is a first-generation immigrant and multidisciplinary artist who is currently pursuing a BFA at Alberta University of the Arts, majoring in Sculpture and minoring in printmaking.
His work embodies elements of various art movements such as neo-expressionism, social realism (in the Philippines), street and folk art which he married to create his version, which he coined as “Street Folk Expressionist Art.”
Harvey moves between different art-making practices such as painting, sculptures, clothing design & storytelling. Inspired by his life experiences as an immigrant, becoming homeless as a youth, and living through the foster system, he channels all of this through visual auto ethnography (self-reflection exploring personal experience and connecting it to a wider cultural, political, and social meanings and understandings.) along with elements of folklore and mythologies and socio-political commentary on today's world.
For more info on Harvey - harveynichol.ca.
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