Words find form in this artist and poet’s unique artworks.
Whether it’s past relationships, professional challenges or personal hurdles, every little (or big thing) fuels Anna Maniego’s fire as an artist and poet. And take note: she does not only write her feelings. She paints them, too!
“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.
“Colorful” words
Anna’s process begins with her words. 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.
What started out as a mere hobby eventually became a true blue passion. 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 were bought,” shares Anna.
While paint and canvas are her primary tools, Anna admits that “bugso ng damdamin” (powerful emotions) is still the powerful force that drives her artistic journey forward. That and consistency. “If I was always very objective about things, or was not emotional, maybe I wouldn’t have been doing this,” she says.
She also advises her fellow 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.”
Poetry of fitness
Among her growing number of followers is the owner of Kinetix Lab, the premier strength and conditioning gym in the country. Her colorful paintings are displayed at all Kinetix Lab branches such as in 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.
For Kinetix Lab , Anna chose blue and yellow in her “Strong” series, which is meant to be displayed at the gym. “The owner simply lets 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 soothing visuals 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 young ones 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.
No blank canvas
In 2022, she also had her artworks and poems displayed for the first time at Manila House, through an exhibition titled Strokes and Verses. The exhibit also featured her Horizon Series, which was 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.
Ultimately, this busy professional and mother of four continues to grow as an artist because she understands the value of her creative outlets. Knowing that poetry and art offer her a priceless way to decompress and deal with the pressures of her hectic life, Anna picks up her pen, wields her paintbrush and paints a colorful world for everyone to get lost in.
