Fujifilm GFX Challenge grant recipient Jan Mayo breathes life anew to Philippine native flowers exhibited at the National Museum of Natural History through a beauty editorial shoot
It all began with a grand idea—something original that would highlight what the Philippines could offer. But no, it wouldn’t work to have a photojournalistic concept or landscape or wildlife photography, for what Jan Mayo realised he needed was something innate to him, unique, and personal. It led him to a workable yet ingenious concept as it attempted to marry art and science. What followed was the photographer’s dedication to his craft, the power of the creative community at his back, and sheer faith in the exoticism and distinct beauty of the Philippines.
“When I eventually won the regional grant [of the Fujifilm GFX Challenge], I was stressed out because I was ambitious with my proposal,” Mayo confessed. The process behind his concept was herculean, to say the least, and yet the finished products were subtly elegant with their minimalistic approach. And yet Mayo’s eyes were set to greater heights—exhibit these photographs at the National Museum of Natural History.
“[But] I didn’t know anyone from the National Museum, let alone how to start this project. But I was ready to deliver,” Mayo said in his speech during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of his exhibition. “I wanted to show that grant committee that I did not say that just to win, maybe a little, but I was determined.”
Mayo’s Faces and Flora: A Philippine Native Plant Photography Exhibition highlights the deep connection between art and natural science by displaying images that show a creative embodiment of Philippine indigenous plants. This series of portraits combines the photographer’s passion and advocacy for native plants and his unique ability to capture the human gaze.
The exhibition materialised through a collaborative effort with botanists from the National Museum of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines - Institute of Biology, and the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, Inc. The exhibition aims to contribute to ongoing conversations about our profound interconnectedness with nature, emphasising the pivotal role of both native and endemic flora in our ecosystem.
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