Raya Simpao’s intimate figurative paintings delve into the nuanced and complex experiences of healing, particularly in the aftermath of grief and trauma. Her works explore how healing can unfold or be obstructed, often amidst the constraints of ritual, tradition, and societal norms. Drawing from the conservative and religious landscapes of the Philippines, Simpao investigates what remains after tragedies that are too painful to confront and hard to articulate. Her art invites reflection on the often invisible remnants of these difficult experiences, highlighting both the tension and beauty inherent in the process of moving forward.
Through her expressive brushwork and striking use of color, Simpao weaves a poignant narrative about the role of cultural rituals and systems in coping with struggle. Each painting offers a glimpse into the emotional weight of healing, questioning how rituals, traditions, and societal expectations both shape and influence personal recovery. Simpao’s figures — often grounded in personal and collective memory — navigate the boundaries between what is visible and what is left unspoken, portraying not just the pain of loss but the quiet resilience that emerges in its wake.
Her work speaks to the universal struggle to reconcile trauma with the desire for peace, offering a meditative space where viewers can reflect on their own experiences with grief, healing, and the rituals that help us cope. By focusing on these intimate moments of vulnerability, Raya Simpao’s art becomes a space of empathy, urging us to confront the difficult and beautiful process of emotional recovery.
I’m currently exploring a theme of healing, particularly during the aftermath of grief or trauma, and the ways it takes place or is possibly hindered, amidst order and ritual. The Philippines and its systems operate around conservatism and religion. I’m deeply interested in what is left behind of tragedies that are so unpleasant to confront and difficult to explain. What part do rituals, traditions, and norms play when coping with any type of struggle? There is both immense tension and beauty in this experience as we make sense of things and move forward.
Raya Simpao
More info: Website, Instagram.
