Buen Calubayan (b.1980-, Philippines) examines the contradictions found within the notion of Filipino identity through his own endeavors as an artist seeking self-validation. In his painting as well as in performances, sculptures, and conceptual pieces, he combines autobiographical material
with canonical works, blurring the distinctions between personal and cultural histories. He believes that personal conflicts can be seen as microcosms of the continuous struggle for autonomy that plagues his country, and that his search for the appropriate form to embody these ideas through art can also reflect a whole nation’s search for an inherent aesthetic taste.