Impy Pilapil is not slowing down in unearthing ancient worlds and reintroducing them to our creative consciousness
Not many artists have mastered several mediums to create exquisite works that exhibit their inclination for experimentation and continuous artistic journey. Diversity and versatility are characteristics only a few artists possess, most especially in the Philippines. Imelda “Impy” Pilapil is one of those. Her oeuvre includes prints, glass and sculptures made of wood, steel, metal, stone and marble, to name a few. Seeing an Impy Pilapil work is both a visceral and esoteric experience. One can visualise energy, emotion, heritage and philosophy frozen in time and embodied into something tactile yet dynamically flowing in every curvature and softened edge.
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“From the time I first learnt to crawl and discover the joy of tearing paper into shapes, my artistic inclinations became apparent to my mother,” Pilapil recalls. “Even in my early years, I had a knack for choosing toys, keeping only those I liked. This penchant for selectivity also extended to my choice of colour, as particular ones always felt more comfortable to me.”
This Cavite-born multi-award-winning artist spent her childhood education in Ladislao Diwa Elementary School and St Theresa’s College. “Besides drawing, I found a passion for creating things with paper. This passion stayed with me throughout my education,” she says.
The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman was Pilapil’s stepping stone in honing her talent in the fine arts. “Despite my parents’ concerns, I decided to pursue an art career independently,” she shares.