Gianne Encarnacion is an artist and illustrator based in Manila, Philippines. Her body of work is ornate and an organized chaos. She is inspired by her influences growing up: science, spirituality, fashion, and 2000’s technology. 

Her art practice revolves around transforming her illustrations into tangible, multipurpose forms. She mainly works with paper and textiles.

How are you feeling today?

Hello! I’m doing fine and I’m feeling relieved. I just finished 2 exhibit pieces and I tried out something different, which was embroidery on paper. Really glad that it turned out nice!

Gianne, your art has this amazing mix of intricate details and ‘organized chaos’. How did you develop this unique style, and what were your influences?

I owe it to my Asian heritage: it’s a mix of the maximalist and horror vacui culture of the Philippines and the ornamental Chinese culture. I’m particularly inspired by the decorative markings on Filipino traditional houses like the bahay na Bato and torogan, and also designs on Filipino traditional clothing like the Barong Tagalog and Baro’t Saya.

As for the “organized” aspect, I think I have video games to thank, as well as the controlled chaos of Japanese culture. I grew up playing a lot of isometric pixel video games like Pokemon, Harvest Moon, Earthbound and Final Fantasy and the grid structure and repeated sprites are something I’ve applied to my work. I’ve also looked at Japanese art and how they compose their images and choose colors. They balance absence and chaos and control the chaos, so the work still feels zen and whole.

I also owe it to loving “vintage” paraphernalia and publications growing up. When I read children’s encyclopedias and science books, I was focused on the scientific illustrations. The illuminated scripts of the medieval ages have also influenced me with their wacky concepts and ornate designs.

“How Does Your Garden Grow”, 2023. Created for my Friends of Friends (FNF) collaboration with ana tomy.

You’ve worked with a variety of materials, from paper to textiles. How does working with different materials influence your creative freedom and approach to your art?

Working with different mediums helps me transform my illustration. Sometimes it adds a new meaning to it, sometimes it strengthens my original intention. Initially I focused on paper, but I wanted people to have my art with them wherever they go, so I tried working on textiles. I find that they can further transform my work with how they style it.

Working with different mediums also changes my process. If it’s an illustration, I can just draw. But if it’s an art piece, I have to have a plan from the beginning. My art pieces are usually intricate paper-cut work on plexiglass and they’re almost collage-like. So when I work on the initial illustration, I keep in mind the things I want to cut or arrange, the areas I want to leave transparent, the parts that will cast a shadow. I also have to think about how I’m going to fit them on paper when I send it for print. Despite having a plan, I am ready for changes. If my idea doesn’t work, if paper gets ripped, if I’m missing one piece, I need to be prepared to pivot. It’s stressful, but so rewarding to see when everything comes together.

Can you share a piece that holds special meaning for you and tell us the story behind it?

My favorite series of mine is called Crying Ladies. I made it during a particularly hard time during the pandemic. I don’t really like portraying my intentions in a literal way in my work, so this was a first and I felt really so naked when I posted it. It’s one of my most popular works so far and I’ve seen a lot of people resonate with the “ladies”. I’ve seen some comments that went “same, but I hope we will all be okay.” Someone even got it tattooed! I think from there I realized that I wanted to make art that moves them in ways they can’t even articulate.

Crying Ladies, 2021

How do your past influences, like science or fashion, show up in your current work?

Growing up in a family of doctors and healthcare professionals, I was primed to be in the medical field. I read a lot of almanacs, encyclopedias, medical books for children but I think I knew I was going to be an artist, so I decided not to take that path. Every now and then I’ll think about how maybe I should’ve become a doctor. In an effort to bridge this gap, I decided to incorporate science in my work last year. Connecting anatomy to my abstract ideas has made my process much more fun and purposeful.

Fashion has also influenced me with not just the clothing, but the editorial and modeling aspect of it. The dramatic poses and the strong lines. Fashion has allowed me to appreciate the process and not just the outcome. That’s why I think I became interested in garment construction and styling, and even considered learning to become a fashion designer.

Another influence would be dance and sports. I did Taekwondo when I was little, and the idea of “sequences” is something I put in my work. Eventually I moved on to dance. Art and dance to me have a symbiotic relationship; my concept of “lines” and “flow” in anatomy work and movement is strengthened by doing both. I’m planning to do a series on dance similar to my Running Girl illustration.

If you could create a piece of art inspired by a moment from your favorite childhood memory, what would it look like?

You were on the cover of Vogue Philippines last year. That’s such a huge achievement. We’d love to hear more about the experience.

Thank you! I came into the shoot very anxious because I was surrounded by these big names who have been in the industry for a while and know each other, while I was this newbie. My imposter syndrome was going crazy, I nearly backed out! But I was able to bond with the people at the shoot and it became fun. I love shoots and how everyone comes together to make it happen, I love fittings, and I love prod and styling work.

Focusing on gratitude helped me quell my feelings of imposter syndrome: it was such an honor to be in this space. It was an honor to be surrounded by creative giants! And of course, I thanked my past versions for working so hard and I had to give her where credit is due! I realized that if I listened to feeling like an imposter, it was such an injustice to me who dreamed big and worked hard.

(via @pngianne)

Just for fun, what’s your personality type and how does it play into your art?

I am an INTP! It makes sense because I have a reservoir of ideas. Sometimes I wish I could just take ideas out of my head because my hands don’t move as fast as I think! I also think it plays with my process; I like having a system or a plan beforehand, but I am open to changes and adapting as I go along. I like it when final work is like an evolved version of my initial plans.

Is there a new project or idea that you’re especially excited about? What can we expect from you in the near future?

My first solo show! It’s been on the back burner for quite some time but I can feel that I’m being pushed to executing it already. Also more fashion pieces like shirts, tops and more scarves. Transforming my art in textile to more wearable pieces, and incorporating embroidery in them.

Fortune Flower, 2024

Last but not least, fill in the blanks with whatever pops into your head first!

The last thing that made me smile was organizing my Google Drive and seeing my old work in Uni; seeing how ambitious and audacious I was back then!

One piece of advice I’d give my younger self is that confidence is built by keeping even the smallest promises to yourself, and you must regularly give yourself credit! Because everyone can compliment you, but if it doesn’t come within you, you’d always feel that you’re lacking.

A perfect way to unwind after a long day for me is a long karaoke session.

Cut Off Line, 2024.