Artist and pharmaceutical entrepreneur, Melissa Yeung-Yap, infuses a touch of local Filipino flair into her artwork, making a magnanimous statement in both her art and business
Melissa Yeung-Yap has more than a handful of strong suits. A known entrepreneur and artist, Yeung-Yap is also something of a philanthropist—though, in our interview, the word itself ("philanthropist") never came up. Instead, Yeung-Yap merely spoke of her multi-faceted passions, ones that were magnanimous in nature but never for show. One of her greatest loves is the arts, which has a bit of a funny backstory. "My passion for arts started when I was in pre-school," Yeung-Yap shares. "I was the only girl in the family. At that time, we only had one TV, and my brothers would always outvote me on which show to watch, so I ended up just creating crafts to pass the time."
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Fast forward a couple of decades, and Yeung-Yap no longer has to contend with anyone for the television. She has, however, freely chosen to pursue her childhood hobby in her adult life.
Though half-Chinese by blood, Yeung-Yap has a distinct art style showcasing Filipino culture's beauty. Indigenous Philippine culture is a huge inspiration for the artist, who's worked and volunteered with many local artisans. "My style is modern contemporary art infused with indigenous cultural elements," she explains. "The challenge I've given myself as an artist is to use my art as a platform to help indigenous and grassroots communities sustain their craft by presenting it in a way that would be appreciated in these modern times."
Before the pandemic, Yeung-Yap had travelled to depressed areas to conduct art workshops for children affected by calamities. She has visited victims of war (such as those in Marawi) and natural disasters. "I've seen how art can really help children express themselves and begin to heal from such traumatic experiences," Yeung-Yap shares. "I also work a lot in regional art promotion and development, particularly where I live in Tarlac, and it's so inspiring to see young and old people express themselves so beautifully."
During the pandemic, Yeung-Yap collaborated with T'boli, Inabel, and Palawan weavers, alongside Paete woodcarvers and artisans, to promote their products. "I've then made it a point to include as much of their products as I can into my art while still retaining my personal aesthetic, which is more modern and contemporary. Thankfully, our art has been widely supported, allowing us to revolve more funds back to the community."