Avant-garde footwear designer Joel Wijangco opened a new exhibit at the Yuchengco Museum on Monday, featuring more than 25 handcrafted pieces that merge fashion, sculpture, and social commentary.
The collection includes pieces such as Bo-ho (Body Horror), a twisted stiletto addressing body dysmorphia, and Palengkera No. 1, inspired by the fish vendors of Malabon’s wet markets.
Other works include Sister’s Favorite, a noodle-inspired heel created during his sister’s breast cancer treatment; Bond(age), an ox-red stiletto with six buckles and a golden halo satirizing commitment; Osuang, a Gothic heel referencing colonial anxieties about Filipina sensuality; and Fitting ni Sioning, based on a shoe fitting with his grandmother.
Wijangco, known for blending surrealism, pop culture, and Filipino folklore, said his designs often carry personal stories.
The exhibit, located at the Yuchengco Museum in RCBC Plaza, Makati, runs through Oct. 15. Admission is free.
