Enigma demystifies preconceptions and unwarranted notions of radical, complex yet skillful female characters in the bible through the exhibition of 10 likewise skillful and strong-willed female artists.

This all-women exhibit invites audiences to reflect on God, whose redeeming character holds perfect love toward all of humanity, despite its imperfect and sinful nature. Even so, His mysterious ways, unfathomable yet nurturing, produced the Messiah from the lineage of Rahab, a Gentile and a practicing prostitute.

In its core, Enigma reveals that it is not our earthly states, be it what we do, in the past, present or the future, but it is our genuine embodiment of Jesus, amid our awareness of our own divinity, the goodness of our heart and the purest of our intentions that God glorifies.

Through the elaborate rendition of our 10 artists, the enigma of the bible’s most controversial female characters is hereby unveiled:

Mimi Sanson-Viola – The Woman with the Alabaster Jar. This seemingly immoral woman in the Gospel is hereby epitomized as the unwavering devotee of God whose bold yet benevolent gesture of anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume oils, wiping them with her brazenly loose hair and kissing them fervently against the disapproving opinions and condemnations of the people in the men-only party, which includes the greedy Judas Escariot. As a result of her loving gesture, Jesus exalts her by saying, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her [for her act of love and devotion].” Indeed, this woman’s poignant story continues to reach households and churches the world over to remind us of the virtue of keeping an unwavering faith in God despite our present circumstances, no matter how critical it seems.

Camille Ver – Rahab the Harlot, by the virtue of her courage and willpower to save her people, is hereby acclaimed by God as the righteous woman who shall receive salvation. Her state as a Gentile and a practicing prostitute stood insignificant in the eyes of God, yet it was her brave demonstration of God’s wisdom and benevolence by recognizing her compatriot spies and hiding them away from their adversaries that earned God’s approval and respect. Rahab’s story is a poignant revelation of God’s mysterious but always fair and loving ways.

Corinne Dinglasan – The Sinful Woman is exemplified as the woman redeemed by Jesus in the midst of being stoned to death by the mob for her adulterous sin. Standing in the middle of the woman and the angry mob, Jesus silences their judgment, proclaiming, “Whoever has not sinned, be the first to cast a stone.” Struck by their conscience and the force of their hearts, the mob dissipated, leaving Jesus alone with the woman, to whom he has told that her sins are forgiven and not to sin anymore. This represents that while God’s mercy is boundless, it is with humility and faith that we experience true salvation.

Marita Ganse – The woman at the well, with her unfavorable Samaritan lineage and history of having had several husbands due to her barren state, was fated to meet Jesus at what had seemed as an appointed time. Jesus, being born a Jew, which rejects Samaritans, spoke to her by the well that and addressed her deep-seated sense of rejection. Reinvigorated by Jesus’s recognition and acceptance of her past, she returned to her people and told everyone of her encounter with Jesus. This story marks the woman as the first evangelist in history, thus signifying that a woman who stays free and courageous with integrity, conquers the masses despite her reputation. Possessed and tormented, Mary of Magdala was destined to meet Jesus in order to be freed from seven demons, which in numeral cases stands for completion. Thus, restored with a joyful sense of completion, the woman who is also considered as the 13th apostle, devoted the rest of her life to accompanying Jesus in his travels and ministry. Therefore, as the first to witness Jesus in the tomb, her firm devotion and determination to embody Jesus’ teachings delivers her to eternal glory and salvation.

Olive Jaro Lopez – Hannah, the desperate barren woman. Barren and childless, Hannah endured her sister-in-laws’ bullying. Desperate for a miracle, she went to the temple, praying and crying out to God to let her produce a child. Upon learning of her predicament, Eli, the temple’s priest prophesied that she would bear a son. The prophecy came true and Hannah gave birth to Samuel, the very first prophet who anointed Israel’s first king, Saul, and then, David. Hannah’s desperate call to God, though not as subtle as the woman who was healed of her bleeding, clearly reveals that regardless of the manner we request for our desires, God always delivers, even the impossible.

Natalya Lagdameo – Mary the sorrowful mother, the only female character in Jesus’ ancestry who is the purest. Mary’s teenage, virgin pregnancy to Jesus may have arisen controversy, but it was her humble obedience and reverence to God’s plans, which included the trials and sorrows that she had to endure, which gained her universal reverence and love. Also known as the Seven Sorrows of Mary, these significant events began with the prophecy of a devout man, named Simeon about Jesus, that “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” As prophesied, Mary endured a succession of suffering and deep sorrow for her only child, Jesus, including his crucifixion and burial. While a mother’s agony over the loss of her child is immensely unbearable, her eventual assumption into heaven, symbolizes that we can already assume heaven in our earthly life by being steadfast on our kindness, humility and grace like Mary, who is personified in the bible as us, humans.

Yvette Co – Tamar, the deceiver. Tamar, on her determined intention to conceive a child and ensure her two dead husbands’ family line and inheritance, disguised herself as a harlot and lured her father-in-law, Judah, also the son of Jacob. Upon learning that his daughter-in-law was pregnant, Judah ordered Tamar burned. But because of her boldness and righteousness in publicly revealing the true identity of her child’s father, she was able to keep her life and her child’s lineage. Tamar’s revelation prompted Judah to admit his own faults for failing in his responsibility to provide for his son’s line. With twins, as hers and Judah’s heirs, as well as direct ancestors of Jesus, Tamar’s noble deception represents, that for as long as we are genuine with our intention and humbly concedes to our faulty acts, regardless of the radical methods we employ and the contrasts we face, we will still prevail and gain respect of our peers.

Len-Len – The Woman with the issue of blood is shown as the woman whose resolute faith in God healed her long-standing and grief-stricken bleeding. After 12 years of being deemed unclean and ostracized by the society, this significant figure in the New Testament boldly sought Jesus in the crowd, believing that she would be healed by merely touching the edge of His robe. From that touch, she was indeed healed, and Jesus felt power leave him. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked his disciples, who had not noticed anything as the crowd was dense. Nevertheless, this woman’s vivid display of healing by faith is a true testament that nothing is impossible with God.

Mercedes Cabral – Salome and Herodias. Unlike our other female characters, whose stories hold a common theme about salvation and redemption, Salome and Herodias’ underlines quite the opposite, bearing the consequences of fear, resentment, impure intentions and evil manipulation. John the Baptist could have stayed alive with his head intact, if he had not angered Herodias by preaching against her and her brother-in-law, Herod, for their sinful and unlawful act of marrying each other. Herod couldn’t punish John as he feared the rejection of his people, who regarded John as a prophet. Yet, hypnotized by Salome’s enthralling dance, he told her that he would deliver whatever she wanted. Echoing her mother, Herodias’ impure desires, Salome requested that the head of John the Baptist be served on a platter. Against his pure conscience, Herod fulfilled Salome and Herodias’ request and beheaded John the Baptist. At the end, this unjust act resulted in the insurrection of the people, as well as the exile of Herod and our two female characters, thus implying that no bad deed ever goes unpunished.

— Text by Mimi Samson-Viola