Lian Sabella Villegas Castillo

August is festival season in my hometown, full of fruits and flowers that are endemic and special to the region. One of these is the Waling-Waling orchid which reminds me dearly of my grandmother’s gardening. I tried painting this feeling but I failed the first time because I merely wanted to copy a style I liked. I immediately painted over it the next day in a more gentle and personal manner. To the back is a silhouette of Mt. Apo, the Philippines’ tallest mountain and home to key biodiversity figures.

Lian is an IT professional based in Kashiwa. She is currently studying Sustainability Science at the University of Tokyo. During her spare time, Lian paints and has promoted conservation using wildlife as a subject. Her work has been exhibited and awarded　internationally through Germany, US, Japan, and her hometown, the Philippines.