IJWBAA

IJWBAA aka Paul ‘Pao’ Hafalla, the visionary founder of Decolonial Minimalism, redefines artistic expression by reclaiming minimalism from its Western colonial roots and embedding it with Filipino cultural memory and resistance. Inspired by Rothko, Giacometti, and Venus de Milo, he seamlessly blends digital and traditional techniques to explore identity, history, and postcolonial narratives. As the first Filipino artist in the Techspressionism movement, IJWBAA pioneers digital storytelling while honoring indigenous and ancestral traditions.

His books, I Just Wanna Be An Artist: Book 1 & 2, documenting his artistic journey, are housed in prestigious institutions such as the National Museum of the Philippines, Getty Research Institute, Uffizi Gallery, Museo Reina Sofía, and more. “Digital art isn’t just a medium; it’s a conduit between eras,” he states. “It allows us to honor the past while shaping the future, transforming our stories into timeless expressions.”

Through Decolonial Minimalism, IJWBAA challenges aesthetic erasure and reconfigures space, silence, and simplicity as acts of cultural reclamation. His work elevates Filipino art on the global stage, ensuring that Filipino narratives are not only seen but deeply felt.