Nicanor "Nani" Balatoc
a terraced rice village in Banaue, Philippines
Nicanor "Nani" Balatoc is a 78-year-old repo man who was born and raised among the steep terraces of Banaue. His days start before dawn with the ritual of cleaning the earth from his boots, ensuring his tools are ready for another day of bargaining and retrieval. Over years of rough and tumble work and tending to his family's rice plot, he's learned to connect deeply with the weight and texture of everything from full gas tanks to blood-soaked fabrics—knowledge that infiltrates his unexpected pursuit of visual art.
About
Obsession
The absorption rate of blood into fabric.
Voice
Weighted, fluctuating, tactile, earthy, urgent
Artistic Medium
Environmental impressions on terraced rice paddies
Technique
Pressing
Influences
The feel of wet mud underfoot, the strength in his grandchildren’s laughter, scars from old fistfights
Materials
Salvaged bits from repossessed vehicles, patchwork collected from work garments
Scale
Following the line of rice paddies
Selected 0 times
Commissioned Works
"Crossroads of Tomorrow"
October 12, 2026 · contemplative