Take A Seat
Unveiling a collaborative exhibition with local Filipino artists, featuring uniquely designed stools by Diwa.Dezeñyo — where craftsmanship meets creativity to transform everyday objects into functional works of art.
We have developed three distinct stool designs, each informed by a unique design philosophy and source of inspiration, resulting in diverse visual and functional outcomes.
The Hugis Ng Diwa Stool adopts a bold yet minimalist approach, providing an abstract interpretation of a traditional stool by blending unique shapes with a contemporary aesthetic.
The Diwa.Casa Stool takes influence from Casa Batlló in Spain, incorporating its signature curvatures into the design to reflect the organic, fluid forms of Gaudí’s architecture.
The delicate form of a butterfly inspires the La Mariposa Stool. Aimed to translate the butterfly’s body into a functional piece of furniture while allowing the diverse shapes and patterns of butterfly wings to be expressed through the artist’s painting on the stool, celebrating their natural variety.
Art Meets Design
We have brought together 16 local Filipino artists, each with their own distinctive artistic style, to showcase their unique creativity. Our aim was to create collaborative pieces that celebrate and merge both art and design.
Carla Gamalinda
Dialogues
The stool was painted with the intention of inviting people to sit. The phrase "sit down" carries for the artist a connotation of initiating a patient conversation. On the stool’s surfaces, the elements engage in a dialogue with one another: the cats with the human (in a traditional Filipino sitting position); the images of a home interior in conversation with the stool’s expected setting; all while the sitter forms a connection with the chair.
The top surface was intentionally left untouched for two reasons: to highlight the natural grains of the teak wood and to encourage people to use the stool without hesitation. For this piece, the artist envisions it as a witness to many meaningful conversations.
Joly Beart!
Sit and Kill the Kindness
The custom-painted stool represents an individual with a kind heart who has endured mistreatment from friends and trusted people. The concept of "Free Pop," featured on the backrest, is inspired by the idea of "Free Hugs," symbolising how kind individuals often become targets of abuse, exploitation, and manipulation. Despite their genuine kindness, some people fail to appreciate their goodness, repaying it with slander and neglect. The artwork is titled Sit and Kill the Kindness, a phrase printed on the seat itself, symbolising how a person’s kindness is gradually eroded when taken for granted. In essence, good people are often overlooked and exploited.
Remster
Call Me :)
Nineties kids, hearts alight,
Whispers danced on chairs in quiet flight,
Secrets lingered in looks, unspoken,
Messages carved, a bond unbroken.
Numbers etched on an empty seat—
Who were these souls, their hearts discreet?
Did they seek solace, a kindred connection,
Or share their thoughts in quiet reflection?
Were they lonely, like me, in the sun's soft glow?
Or just reaching out, letting their dreams flow?
In every carved number, a story untold.
Summer Ge Guia
Tomatino
This piece reimagines a stool as a ripe tomato, its rounded form adorned with a face, while its legs sprout like vibrant leaves.
Valerie Teng
Lucky Harmony
This vibrant artwork atop a whimsically designed stool brings together powerful symbols of fortune and balance. Valerie Teng's "The Lucky Meow" character beckons prosperity with its raised paw, accompanied by a fish— a traditional symbol of abundance and perseverance. Surrounding it are lotus flowers, blooming with serene elegance, representing purity, enlightenment, and spiritual rebirth. Together, these elements form a harmonious trio, embodying the flow of good luck, resilience, and peace in daily life.
Jesse Camacho
Orange Chains
The artwork represents breaking the chains that bind us to our comfort zones. For some, it is a challenge, while for others, it is the path to personal growth in this world.
Jheane & Julia Borja
Ant Hill
This chair occupies the space between craft and art, where tensions emerge between the individual and their responsibilities to the collective, each struggling to coexist. Ants were chosen as the motif to convey this dynamic, exploring themes of labour, domesticity, entropy, and art.
Joshua Barrera
Seat of the Seraphim
Inspired by the interpretations and imaginations of celestial beings like angels, the artwork playfully places the many wings of the seraphim on each arm and leg of the stool. These wings can be seen from various angles, yet from behind, only a starry sky remains, evoking the sense of a divine encounter— a being that is both present and absent, existing in a solemn, majestic realm.
Pat "Rabby" Aguas
Rabby
Rabby is a cute rabbit—charming and soft on the outside—but she’s more than just sweet. I created her to be fierce, bold, and full of attitude. While rabbits are often seen as timid or vulnerable, Rabby turns that idea on its head. Through her, I explore the contrast between cuteness and strength, using her as a way to challenge expectations and show that softness doesn’t equate to weakness.
Sigwada Knicolai - Exhibition Curator
The Portal
"The Portal" draws inspiration from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. When we "Take A Seat," we begin to dream, escaping into another world—another story. In doing so, we carry a piece of that world with us, living in a waking dream.
Andre Baldovino
Vorpal
The circular painting takes inspiration from the natural grain of the chair’s wood. It blends the wood’s colour with thin acrylic glazes, creating an abstracted landscape.
Demetrio Dela Cruz
Ulympus Battle Scroll Seat
After storms of struggle, pause and celebrate... Take A Seat.
Just like Hercules, after conquering a long list of challenging tasks, a seat worthy of his achievements awaits him at Mt. Olympus.
Gemart Ortega
Still, Stay with Me
A quiet homage to Van Gogh, painted in his style on a simple stool—a nod to his iconic chairs. It becomes more than just a portrait; it’s a whisper to time, memory, and presence. Beneath the seat, hidden words are meant to be felt, not read.
Still. Stay. With me.
Humbly
Encounters Outside
Each step the child takes blooms with new, impossible colours—flowers that whisper secrets and stones that hum lullabies. It’s a journey through the subconscious, where curiosity bends the fabric of reality.
mimaaaaaaaaw
Sit Pretty
A functional creature by mimaaaaaaaaw—designed to sit, smile, and stand out.
Support Local Art:
Every stool tells a story. Click the link to purchase a one-of-a-kind piece crafted in collaboration with Filipino artists.
Interested in the stool itself without the artwork? We also offer made-to-order pieces—just get in touch with us directly.
Interested in purchasing a stool?
Click the link to message Space Encounters on Instagram or enquire by email at spacegallery.info@gmail.com.
Take A Seat
A Diwa.Dezeñyo Exhibition
By: F Marco Sebastian M. Padayao
June 7, 2025
Space Encounters Gallery, Ortigas Center, Philippines