About the Artist

Nikki Ocean is a painter from the Philippines. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines in the year 2011. She regards an exhibition space as a medium in itself, developing works that are always in dialogue with the place and the viewer moving within it. Her artistic practice is a gentle meditation on metaphysics, existentialism, and pop culture as it is connected to her own journey to self-realization and personal spirituality. Her imagery examines and stretches the possibilities of paint to reveal the subconscious and ethereal.

About the Work

I’ve always wanted to experiment with prints; I think art should be accessible to everyone.

I’ve imagined the types of homes this piece could end up in; one edition distinct from the next because of the space that uniquely shelters it. A lot of us are turning to the dreaminess of interior design in an attempt to self-soothe. Seeing beautifully potted plants, whimsically designed ceramics, ornate home décor and the look of rustic furniture glossing my social media feeds has been fascinating. I didn’t want to overthink painting this time; I myself craved a place to escape to. And what a sanctuary these watercolors have been: this space laced with the sweetness of calm, presence, breath, and flow was a spiritual getaway from the horrors of this quickly evolving dystopia. I wanted to sense and savor a world so warm and pleasant; a destination kind and illumined.

This country leaves us no choice but to create the spaces we’d like to fly to. In these strange times, travel inward.