Bayani Mendoza
a terraced rice village in Banaue, Philippines
Bayani's mornings start climbing high above the terraced fields of Banaue, his body a testament to years of arm wrestling long past. The village relies on his skill, every step along the slick paths taken with determination to keep his children educated and the rice terraces fruitful, while nights bring the gnawing fear of a storm loosening a crucial bolt. Each piece of art he creates, born from the discards around him, carries the lingering scent of ripe fruit caught at the edge of decay.
Defining Work
About
Obsession
Predicting fruit rot by scent.
Voice
Worn hands grasping elusive threads.
Artistic Medium
Recycled transmissions cables interwoven with harvest nets.
Technique
Knotting intricate patterns from discards.
Influences
Stories of lost climbers, children at play on terraces, rust-red skies before monsoons.
Materials
Old radio wires, worn-out climb ropes, rice husks, bamboo slats.
Scale
Wall-sized meshes stretched from his own arm span.
Selected 1 time · Last: March 01, 2026
