After seeing the world and mounting exhibits in Monaco and Madrid, Inha Arceo comes home. An alumnus of the Preview Creative 25 in 2022, the painter is set to hold her first solo exhibit in Manila during the peak of summer. The warm season proves to be familiar territory to Inha, who likens herself to a sunflower—constantly transforming and constantly hoping.
A staunch advocate for mental health awareness, Inha wields her craft as a tool for healing the inner self. In this edition of Preview Creative Spotlight, she gets candid about her relationship with her art, articulating its liberating and empowering capabilities.
Preview Creative Spotlight: Inha Arceo
Hi Inha! Could you please introduce yourself?
"Hi! I’m Inha and I am a self-made, playful, and versatile contemporary artist born and raised in Metro Manila."
What was your first memory of wanting to pursue art? When and how did you decide to become an artist?
"My first memory of wanting to pursue art was when I was three years old. I was exposed to my late great-grandfather and grandfather’s paintings. But I started to take being an artist seriously in 2020, and now it has become a full-time job."
"Over the past five years, I have made over 446 original artworks. I have also grown a strong community with my Instagram and TikTok accounts. Once a corporate woman, I was able to establish myself and my business in the midst of the pandemic by selling art pieces that championed self-love and authenticity."
Were you always attracted to painting as a medium? What about painting allows you to express yourself best?
"Initially I was always attached to various painting mediums such as acrylic, gouache, and watercolor. I then got acquainted with digital illustration when the pandemic started."
"Creating art is when I feel most feel fulfilled as doing so has always made me feel like my most 'authentic self.' It feels like a calling because I always have had that itch to create art. I feel that creating art promotes 'mental freedom,' which is the ability to create without restraint."
"I feel like creating art can significantly benefit one’s own mental health. It has become an outlet to express my emotions and reduce stress and anxiety, which in turn helps boost my self-confidence. It's made me feel more free than ever as an individual."
How do you start with a piece? Do you begin with a strike of inspiration, or do you just go off what you’re feeling at a certain moment?
"I usually go off with what I am feeling at the moment. What inspires me to create art is the feeling of expressing the bottled-up emotions that I feel on a daily basis. It feels like therapy to me, and I feel that people are able to resonate with my work in that aspect. I am also inspired by how I am able to help people 'feel better' with my art, and that motivates me to create more magic."
"My love for sunflowers serves as an expression of positivity and joy. I think it’s the color yellow, which once spoke loudly to me and since then, it has greatly influenced my work. Sunflowers depict a sense of hope and transformation which I feel has been represented through my artwork in the past years."
"Each piece felt like I was going through a series of transformations—not necessarily big changes but micro ones [that made me feel like] a better person, one artwork at a time. I was able to vent out unarticulated thoughts and emotions with my art."
The importance of taking care of one’s mental health has been a prominent component of your work. How does making art influence your mental health, and vice versa?
"I feel that creating art promotes 'mental freedom,' which is the ability to create without restraint. That is when I feel that I am able to express myself best."
"This allows for a healthy mind, which [grants me the] creative space to mentally thrive and create more art. I am able to become more aware of myself as I have created a safe space for me to thrive in. I feel that art allows anyone to express their emotions, experiences, and inner struggles that might be challenging to open up about."
How do you feel about finally having your first solo exhibit in Manila this year? What does it mean to show your work here?
"In my first solo exhibition, I am able to express what it means to break free through my artworks. My works serve as a cue to celebrate one’s most authentic self even when challenged. For me, to be your most authentic self is to be able to continuously learn and accept everything about yourself in order to feel joy, freedom, and growth."
"Each segment not only embodies my own personal narrative but invites viewers to rediscover their own journeys of accepting everything about themselves, [which will hopefully] allow them to break free and live a meaningful and full life."
"In this exhibit, I am able to joyfully reflect on what it means to truly break free. This collection of artworks is my whimsical and playful celebration of having the courage to be comfortable in one’s own skin. Each piece is a colorful tribute brimming with hues of empowerment and charm, where viewers are invited to embrace what it means to be truly human under the banner of my favorite phrase, to 'break free.'"
What do you hope people feel or think upon seeing your work?
"I am an advocate of mental health. My acrylic brushwork and choice of subjects indicate a deeply rooted cultural stigma that we continue to face in current society. With the use of vibrant hues and subtle references to pop culture, I am able to lay out my own vision of how one can mentally cope and express one’s inner emotions"
"I describe my art as 'art for the feels,' best characterized by free-spirited charm that draws from how I am able to able to mentally cope. I always invite my audience to a journey of introspection, where one can realize that in this life, the journey is not about becoming or pretending to be something you are dictated to become. Perhaps the journey is about unbecoming anything that is not really you."
"I am known for my unique ability to create art that evokes everyday human feelings, emotions, and vulnerabilities. My work offers a playful and whimsical exploration of how authenticity becomes a powerful act in embracing what it means to be truly yourself."
What are your greatest hopes for the art scene and community here in the Philippines? What do you wish to see more of?
"I personally believe that there is a great potential for this art scene and community to grow. I hope that the art community is able to spread more awareness and increase engagement with more artworks and artists through various exhibitions, fairs, talks, museums, and creative initiatives or outlets."
"[These can] help educate and excite more Filipinos to become more involved in the art scene. I feel that [we have a] very promising scene after seeing a lot of successful art-related events around the country."
Inha is holding her first-ever solo exhibit in Manila titled Break Free from March 31 to April 13, 2025. It will be held at RiseSpace Art Gallery, 2/F Comuna Bldg, 238 Pablo Ocampo Sr. Ext., Makati City. Admission is free from Monday to Sunday, 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
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