Exploring the unique creative process of poet and painter Anna Maniego who seamlessly blends traditional art forms with the power of technology.
Finding an effective method to reduce life’s unnecessary stress is crucial for personal well-being. Just like what poet and artist Anna Maniego did and continuously been doing. She acknowledges that her path to self-expression through painting was inspired by negative experiences from professional and personal relationships.
“I began writing to unload my heavy and dark feelings, and then I asked one of my sculptor friends if he knew of somebody who could paint my poems. He then introduced me to another artist, a painter whose works are really dark. So, we talked. Eventually, the two told me, ‘you know, these are your words; you must interpret them for yourself,’” Anna says.
Despite her enthusiasm, she found herself at a loss after purchasing a large canvas and oil paints, unsure how to begin expressing herself through painting. “I took a step back, gathered sketch pads, craypas, and an array of colored and metallic pens, and began to explore and create numerous works that led me to a distinctive style. I have always seen words in color and began to use colors that resonated with me. I continued to share it with my artist friends, and they were very encouraging,” she says.
The encouragement boosted her commitment to paint on large canvases and further finding her style; however, in the beginning, she kept all of her artworks to herself. In 2020, she decided to showcase her works online. This led to a friend expressing interest in purchasing one of her paintings and inquiring about the price. “I didn’t know how to price my paintings at that time but those paintings that I posted on social media got bought,” shares Anna.
Anna’s process begins with her words; her poetry. She would then translate those poems into paintings. “My approach was to write incredibly dark poetry, mirroring my feelings at that time. My paintings, however, are strikingly vivid,” she shares. She explains that the contrast between the dark themes of her poems and the vibrant colors of her paintings stems from her desire to ultimately feel a sense of joy and liberation after expressing her negative emotions through her poetry.
“If I had my way and painted the words exactly as they are, the colors would be black, white, and red, representing my rage or sadness,” she continues.
In 2022, she had her artworks and poems displayed for the first time at the elite and luxurious Manila House private club. The exhibition was entitled Strokes and Verses, and featured her Horizon Series which is not only inspired by her poems but also by sunsets. The following year, she showcased a collection of paintings again of the same series, entitled Spectra of Solace. This was where she embraced the use of technology in her poetry and paintings.
“While seeing my paintings, you can read my poem on the side or listen to it by scanning the QR code. I invested in the creation of QR codes. It represented three art forms: painting, poetry, and spoken word. It’s really interactive,” she shares.
It was the idea of her voice actor friends to record her poems. Guests would go around the exhibition area with their phones and earphones. Some are even moved to tears. Also, during the opening days of her exhibits, Anna would read some of her favorite poems.
Her first gallery exhibit, entitled Renewed Reveries, in Arte Bettina, was about Anna’s newfound dreams and hopes. “My artworks were more whimsical on my third exhibit. In contrast to the Horizon series, the Air series is full of movement and flow.”
Anna appreciates the individuals who support her poetry and art. There have been teenage girls who have just started to write and paint, and they would approach her, she shares. “Some would send me their poetry so I could read and comment on them,” Anna mentions.
Another advocate of her artworks would be the owner of Kinetix Lab, the premier strength and conditioning gym in the country. Her colorful paintings are displayed at all Kinetix Lab branches: UP Town Center, The Podium, and One Ayala. “He gives me a place to showcase my works in all his gyms. Thanks to him, I have the freedom to explore new styles, which has contributed to my growth as an artist.,” she says.
Regarding the Kinetix Lab artworks, Anna mentioned that the gym’s primary colors would be blue and yellow, colors she utilized in her Strong series, the collection of paintings meant for display in the gym. “However, he simply let me work on the pieces according to my vision of how the paintings should match the space,” says Anna. Her artworks complement the gym environment by providing a soothing visual in contrast to the predominantly metallic aesthetic of the plates and gym equipment.
Aside from Kinetix Lab, some of Anna’s artworks can also be seen on display at Kinetix Kids, a dynamic play gym, activity, and specialized training center for kids located at The Podium in Ortigas. “The artworks at Kinetix Kids are existing paintings that I have that the owner liked because they exude happy vibes. Hopefully, the kids who are budding artists who play at Kinetix Kids would be inspired by my works,” Anna says.
Anna, a mother of four and a busy professional, understands the value of her creative outlets. She finds that poetry and art offer her a priceless way to decompress and deal with the pressures of her hectic life. Furthermore, she uses it to inspire others since she believes that everyone has creativity within themselves. Compared to how she began with her journey as an artist, she’s happier now and you would see that in her poems. Reflecting on the past, she recognizes that the “bugso ng damdamin” she experienced, while challenging, ultimately provided the necessary drive for her artistic journey, pushing her to dive into her creative work.
“If I was very objective about things, or was not emotional, maybe I wouldn’t have been doing this,” she says. She advises her fellow artists facing creative block, as well as emerging artists, to engage in art every day. “An artist friend told me not to be a Sunday artist. Doing art every day is not necessarily painting or drawing. It is also fixing your art, your art materials, doing your inventory, fixing your files, just something related to your art,” Anna says. She continues, “Start reading, researching, listen to a podcast, anything that will inspire you, or just sit in your quiet.”
Follow Anna Maniego on Instagram to check out her artworks.
