IJWBAA

Profile Picture
Currently based
Philippines
Website
https://wannabelabs.com/about.html
About

IJWBAA [eej-wah], also known as Pao or Paul Hafalla, is a digital artist, painter, and author based in Pangasinan, Philippines. His art blends influences from Rothko, Giacometti, and Venus de Milo to create expressive figurative pieces that explore identity, status, culture, and life. Working in both digital and traditional media, his works and books are part of collections in renowned institutions worldwide, including the National Museum of the Philippines, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Museo Reina Sofía, British Library, Library of Congress, and more. As the first Filipino recognized in the Techspressionism movement, IJWBAA continues to make a significant impact in the digital art world.

CV
Solo Exhibitions
2024
kizumeizukaka (IJWBAA), VR Exhibit, OncyberIO, March 1-31, 2024

2023
Homage to Icons, VR Exhibit, OncyberIO, Dec 1-31, 2023
Typical Atypical, VR Exhibit, OncyberIO, Nov 1-30, 2023
April Fools, VR Exhibit, OncyberIO, April 1-30, 2023


Group Exhibitions
2024
Art x Technology, Meta Space Gallery, Liverpool UK, Feb 1-29, 2024
Life Under Climate, Adelaide Festival, Create 4 Adelaide, Adelaide Australia, March 2024
“The Wall” Print it! 2024 - The Show Without Boundaries, Leeds UK, Feb 2 - March 1, 2024

2023
“Love Pets, Be Kind” Fight for Kindness, Type Campus, Firenze Italy, November 2023
“Beach Boy” Heatwave, Dodomu Gallery, Brooklyn New York USA, August 3 - September 21, 2023
“Collective” The Changes, Climate Art Collection, Germany, June 26, 2023
Celebrate Art with Colours” VR Exhibit, Opulent Art Gallery UK, May 14, 2023
“Party-Party” (sticker icons) Museum of Krypto Art Italy, April 24, 2023 to May 5, 2023


Notable Collections & Commissions
2024
Art World Database London, UK

2023
Hugh Stiel, Greater New Orleans Louisiana USA - Royal Frenchmen Hotel Bar And Gallery
Dr. Gerard "Toto" Salgado, San Juan City Manila, Philippines - Jolizarts
Alan C. Fleming, Ottawa Ontario, Canada - Author and Poet
Joshua Benson & Nikki Yanong, BGC Taguig City, Philippines - JNB Group Inc, ArtStalkerPh
Marty Ian Gideon Flores, Dagupan City, Philippines - DCTY Micro Gallery
Gilbert Simpao, Cavite City, Philippines - General Manager/Chief Commercial Officer PruLife UK
Juanton Robes, Pasig City, Philippines - Arts and Toys Collector


Awards
2022
Finalist, ArtsFighters, Milan Italy, December 10, 2022
2nd Place, World Children's Day (unofficial), Paris France, November 20, 2022


Recognitions
Museums
‘I Just Wannabe An Artist’ (book 1 & 2) Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Japan, April 17, 2024
‘I Just Wannabe An Artist’ (book 1 & 2) National Museum of the Philippines, Manila Philippines, March 18, 2024

Libraries
‘I Just Wannabe An Artist’ (book 1 & 2) Library of Congress, Washington DC United States, March 15, 2024
‘I Just Wannabe An Artist’ (book 1 & 2) British Library, West Yorkshire United Kingdom, March 5, 2024
‘I Just Wannabe An Artist’ (book 1 & 2) Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt Africa, March 18, 2024
‘I Just Wannabe An Artist’ (book 1 & 2) National Library of the Philippines, Manila Philippines, Feb 14, 2024
I Just Wannabe An Artist’ (book 1 & 2) Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong China, March 14, 2024

Press & Publications
Interviews
2024
The Global Filipino Magazine Dubai UAE, March 27, 2024
The Flux Reviews, UK, March 2, 2024

2023
In Conversations, Insights of an Eco Artist, Portugal, December 5, 2023
Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art, Barcelona Spain, August 17, 2023


Magazines
2024
Dolor Magazine, Issue X, Page ##, New York USA, Feb 12, 2024

2023
Goddessarts Magazine, Issue XII, Page 11, Germany, Dec 26, 2023
Hidden Talents, The Arches Project Org, Pages 14 & 15, Birmingham United Kingdom, Dec 24 2023
Inside the Artist Mind (online mag) Issue 006, Pages 10 & 11, Opulent Art UK, Dec 1, 2023
365 Art+ Case 47.Transport 5, 365 Art + Magazine, Page 75, Tokyo Japan, August 2023


Books
2024
Order, SU4IP, Sheffield, United Kingdom
The Show Without Boundaries, Print It, Page 17, Leeds United Kingdom, January 5, 2024
I Just Wannabe An Artist Book #2, Photobook, Selangor Malaysia, Jan 3, 2024

2023
Posters for Human Kind: Fight for Kindness, Page 188, Type Campus, Firenze Italy, December 19, 2024
The Place of Memory, Cista Arts, Page 13, London United Kingdom, June 2023
I Just Wannabe An Artist Book #1, Photobook, Selangor Malaysia, May 1, 2023


Featured On
2024
'I Just Wanna Be An Artist: Book 2’ IssueWire, Wyoming USA, Jan 7, 2024
Everybodywiki, Featured on Website, United Kingdom, Jan 2, 2024

2023
“Portfolios: IJWBAA” Creative Manila, Manila Philippines, Dec 19, 2023
“Featured Artist: IJWBAA” Agimat: Sining at Kulturang Pinoy, Manila Philippines, Dec 8, 2023
Art World Database, London/Singapore, Featured on Website, Nov 25, 2023
Artist Database, USA, Featured on Website, Nov 20, 2023
‘Embark on Artist Journey with IJWBAA’ PressCenter June 8, 2023
Twoucan by TINAMI, Tokyo Japan, Featured on Website, February 2023


Representation
Opulent Art Gallery UK (past)
Date: July 5, 2023 to October 31, 2023
Type: Standard Representation
Leicester, United Kingdom LE67 1EE
Works
News
Emerging talent from Pangasinan captivates art world with unique fusion of history and modernity

From a young age, Pao was equally enchanted by the possibilities of art and the innovations of technology. His journey into digital art began with a curiosity about blending these worlds, leading him to explore the vast potential of digital media...

Emerging talent from Pangasinan captivates art world with unique fusion of history and modernity
Exhibitions & Events
Bibliography
DataViz