Rose’s painting process begins by forging a dialogue between two central motifs: basketweaving patterns and abstracted floral forms—both deeply rooted in Filipino craft traditions and cultural symbolism. Working in acrylic, she lets these elements interact across the canvas, their size, placement, and colors creating a dynamic interplay of rhythm, tension, and balance. Through interlacing, overlapping, and shifting lines, she mirrors the physical act of weaving, building intricate, layered compositions. This movement functions visually and conceptually, reflecting the woven nature of cultural memory while also acting as a protective veil—revealing only as much of her story as she chooses to share in the final outcome.
Once the composition is in place, the background is developed through a slow, intuitive process of layering shapes, color, and atmosphere. These layers deepen the visual field while subtly mirroring the movement of the foreground. Over time, the initial imagery (basket weaving lines and abstracted flowers) become partially or entirely obscured, leaving behind only traces—outlines, shadows, or faint impressions. This intentional act of erasure becomes a form of memory work, creating space for rediscovery and transformation.
The final stage returns focus to the foreground. The floral and basketweaving motifs are retraced and revived, guided by memory and the residual marks left behind. This cycle of concealment, recollection, and reconstruction reflects the artist’s lived experience as an immigrant—a path defined by forgetting, remembering, and reimagining what was once lost.
The resulting work serves as a celebration of memory: of culture, rituals, and the vivid textures of Filipino heritage. Having immigrated to the United States at the age of 12, many of these memories gradually receded into the background. Through painting, they are recovered and reassembled—honoring the surviving fragments and giving form to a cultural inheritance that continues to shape the artist’s evolving identity.