ART
Wall Mural

The mural for Maia's Filo Asian Eats has been one of the most ambitious and challenging undertakings I have ever been commissioned to create. Spanning 5.1 meters by 2 meters, it covers a focal wall of the restaurant and anchors its space.

From initial concept to final execution, the project took more than two months to complete. I will not be exaggerating when I say there was a period when I quietly questioned whether I was truly up to the task!

As a comics illustrator, I am accustomed to working in detail, but on an 11-by-17-inch board. Scaling that level of precision to a mural many times larger required me to think not just in double detail, but in magnified detail! And don't even ask me about the coloring, which was just as much a feat in itself!

Because the mural features numerous subjects that demanded careful rendering, none of which could be compromised, the real test lay in organizing them within a clear visual hierarchy and arranging them in a balanced composition.

In the early stages, restaurateur and friend Harold shared his vision for the mural: it would celebrate Filipino culture and identity. As Maia’s will serve Filipino Asian cuisine, the goal was twofold: to give Filipinos in Australia a comforting taste of home, and to introduce Australian diners to the richness of Filipino flavors.

We agreed from the outset to take an “old school” approach to both the subject matter and the portrayal of Filipino culture. I proposed centering the overall theme on Filipino dishes, framed by "Malakas at Maganda" - the Adam and Eve of Philippine folklore. I also suggested incorporating cultural elements unique to the Philippines, such as the jeepney, nipa hut, maya (the restaurant's namesake), and other flora and fauna. To add a sense of playfulness, I scattered hidden "duwendes" (dwarves from folklore) throughout the mural. Finally, I drew inspiration for the style and color palette from Filipino komiks of the 1960s, when the genre was at its peak.

The mural is composed of three panels. The viewer’s eye is guided from left to right, 1️⃣ beginning with Maganda emerging from the bamboo trunk. It then moves to the 2️⃣ central panel, which features Filipino dishes and the Philippine flag, among others. Finally, the eye arrives at the 3️⃣ right panel, where Malakas appears, mirroring Maganda’s pose, balancing out the composition.

I am truly happy that Harold entrusted me with complete creative freedom. That trust reflected his full confidence in my artistry and experience. I can't help but be overwhelmed by disbelief and wonder at having accomplished what was seemingly a near-impossible undertaking. 

The mural at Maia’s Filo Asian Eats stands as one of my most memorable achievements as a professional artist.