Pinay contemporary artist breaking boundaries at World Art Dubai 2025

April 15, 2025 11:23pm

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Showcasing the vibrant creativity and resilience of Filipino artists, the Philippines will make history at the prestigious World Art Dubai (WAD) by unveiling its very first national pavilion at the World Trade Center.

This ground-breaking event will see the Philippines take its place alongside some of the world’s most celebrated cultures with over 45 Filipino artists selected to participate at the international art fair which is taking place on April 17-20, 2025.

The WAD is the region’s largest contemporary retail art fair showcasing over 10,000 art pieces from more than 400 renowned galleries and solo artists from 65 countries.

The event is expected to welcome over 11,000 art enthusiasts while offering non-stop schedule of live art performances, workshops and talks with tickets ranging from 20 AED to 70 AED, WAD official website reveals.

Among the 400 artists who were invited to showcase their artworks, one name stands out.

Susan Villanueva De Guzman, also known by her artist’s name, Zoo-Sun, a Filipina, will be exhibiting her artworks at Stand No – CB06.

Some of her contemporary art pieces that will be on display are the Messages, Ibat-Ibang Ikaw (The Many Versions of You), Panels of Hope, Bantayog na Likha (Monumental Work), Pintados Series in Turquoise, Pintados, Shukran Baba Zayed & Pintados Series in Silver with prices ranging from 2,000 AED to 15,000 AED each.

De Guzman, a design educator & a lecturer in Applied Media at the Higher Colleges of Technology for 25 years, told GMA Integrated News that she is filled with pride to be part of the history to represent Filipino artistry in the global stage.

She said it is a humbling experience to exhibit her artwork alongside artists from around the globe as it reflects how creativity transcends borders.

It was always her dream to be able to represent her roots and share a piece of the Filipino culture in a bigger platform.

“Being part of this ground-breaking event, representing the Philippines at the first-ever art pavilion at World Art Dubai 2025, is truly an overwhelming honor for me. As a Filipino artist, it feels like I am carrying not just my own creative journey, but also the stories, hopes, and vibrant spirit of our people. It's a beautiful opportunity to showcase the richness of our culture and the depth of our artistry on a global stage,” De Guzman told said.

She added, “More than that, it fills me with pride to be part of history, knowing that I can inspire others back home to dream big and believe that our voices and visions deserve to be seen and celebrated worldwide. This moment is not just for me, but it’s for every Filipino artist who dares to dream. Being in here, as part of WAD 2025, it is a pleasure to share to this diverse community of this country and to showcase who we are.”

De Guzman, a mother of two, has been a resident of the UAE for 32 years.

She has been teaching UAE Nationals for more than two decades, sharing Filipino culture at every opportunity she has.

In an interview with GMA Integrated News, De Guzman said she had always aspired to be an artist since her childhood days even it meant defying the wishes of her parents who were both medical doctors by profession.

She remembered during her school days that her notebooks were filled with sketches and drawings, leaving her teachers wondering if she understood the lessons.

“I do remember the lecture, I am a visual person, I learned that way. I continued my interest in arts, I continued to sketch. I wish my parents are still alive that they could see that I am happy with the degree that I have chosen at the same time that I educated a lot of Nationals with art and it’s a proud moment representing the artistry of the Filipinos on the global stage and presenting the richness of culture before the international crowd,” she said.

De Guzman said that her work is deeply inspired by the Filipino rich cultural heritage, traditions, values like bayanihan, which reflects themes of community and unity.

Incorporating elements from folklore and indigenous patterns to celebrate Filipino ancestral roots and preserve those stories for future generations are embedded in her artworks.

The artist said she is deeply inspired by the works of Raul Isidro, Apo Whang-Od and Mauro Malang Santos and her artworks are always done with intensive research & exploration of Filipino roots.

For this Filipina artist, art was more than just a means of self-expression; it was a way to connect with people, to bridge cultural divides, and to communicate powerful stories through her work.

“While my work is contemporary, I see it as a bridge between tradition and modern expression. I blend intensive research into our cultural roots with bold, abstract patterns and textures. My aim is to present these timeless stories and symbols in a fresh, modern way, inviting the audience to engage deeply with the details while offering a new visual language that feels both current and deeply rooted in Filipino heritage,” she said.

“A lot of my works if you look at it, it has a lot of lines and textures but each of the lines you can see in my work tells a story. I would like to leave this kind of work that so that the future generation could understand their roots and the values that we fight for. This is something I would like to impart to the new generation, or I should call next gen, I want them to understand where we came from,” she stressed.

Participating in WAD 2025, De Guzman hopes to connect with the global audience to share the beauty of Filipino culture while grow as an artist by learning from the diverse creative voices.

She is confident that the global audience will be surprised by the diversity of Filipino art from Realism, Surrealism, Contemporary and a lot more.

“Our works are rich with stories, emotions, and cultural depth that resonate universally, yet they carry a distinct identity that makes them stand out. In a diverse and dynamic event like this, I’m confident our art will spark curiosity and admiration, opening meaningful conversations about our history, resilience, and creativity. It’s a wonderful chance to show the world that Filipino artistry is vibrant, evolving, and ready to take its place on the global stage” she said.

Having come from a unique cultural background, De Guzman, reminded Filipino artists not to heed to pressures and to break stereotypes “by showing the world that Filipino art is not just traditional but also contemporary, bold, and evolving.”

She also expressed her opinion about dealing with self-doubt as many artists go through this challenging stage where they think & feel that their work is not good enough or if their voice truly matters.

De Guzman encourages every artist to overcome this feeling by staying true to their purpose and constantly reminding themselves that art is a way to express, connect and tell stories that matter.

“I see Filipino contemporary art gaining even more recognition and respect on the global stage. Our artists are fearless in blending tradition with innovation, and I believe the world is beginning to see the depth and diversity of our creative voices. I hope to play a role in this movement by continuing to share stories that reflect our culture and experiences, while opening doors for other Filipino artists to be seen and celebrated internationally,” she told GMA Integrated News.

De Guzman said apart from participating in WAD 2025 this month, she is excited for her upcoming projects where she is looking forward to potential international collaborations with fellow artists through participating in international exhibitions.

The artist also said she plans to publish two books that are now in the pipeline and pursue one exhibition about a mixture of contemporary and surrealism arts soon.

Family of artists

Her son, Patrick Zyrille, an artist and a creative designer at a financial institution in Canada, told GMA Integrated News that his mother is an inspiration to every young artist like him.

“Congratulations to my mom for being part of the exhibiting artists at the World Art Dubai 2025. She truly is an inspiration, especially for new artists like me, because she constantly chases after every opportunity to tell stories through color, texture, and shape. Check out her work at World Art Dubai along with dozens of Filipino artists,” he said.

Her daughter, Patricia Zyrinn, who is a manager and a jewellery design teacher in Dubai Design Academy, said the family is proud of their mother’s achievements.

Patricia Zyrinn said that her mother’s journey reminds everyone that “it is never too late to dream big, create boldly, and lead with love.”

“We are beyond excited and proud to celebrate our mother as she showcases her work at World Art Dubai! Herr creativity, passion, and resilience continue to inspire everyone around her. This milestone is a reflection of years of dedication and a heart full of vision,” she said.

She added, “May this exhibition open even more doors for her artistry and bring her insightful perspective to new audiences around the world.”

De Guzman’s story is one of empowerment, a reminder that Filipino women can rise above adversity and create meaningful change in the world, says Emma Wenceslao Sentones, chairman of the Global Filipino Community Association (TGFCA).

The TGFCA, an all-women group based in Abu Dhabi City, lauded De Guzman and all the Filipino artists who were selected to participate in the Philippine Art Pavilion at WAD 2025.

Sentones, in a separate interview with GMA Integrated News said that the representation of the Filipino artists in a global platform is a proud moment for the Philippines, proving that art can be a powerful tool to connect with others and asserting the Filipino identity in the international platform.

“The Global Filipino Community and Associates is proud to support our talented 45 artists participating in WAD 2025. We believe in the power of art to work and inspire as they shine the global stage,” Sentones said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News