New Series:
The Tulay Series
© J.P. Bell
Tulay means bridge in Filipino. More than a physical connection between two places, it represents the spaces between cultures, histories, identities and our sense of belonging.
Every painting begins as stone taken from the land it will hang in. I hand-grind Ōamaru stone, a limestone formed roughly 34 million years ago from the fossilised remains of ancient marine life, and work it into the canvas by hand rather than brush, letting the material keep its own presence.
Bringing together Filipino heritage and the ancient materiality of Ōamaru limestone, each painting becomes a meeting point between the Philippines and Aotearoa New Zealand.
"Lakas" (Strength)
JP Bell, 2026
Ground Oamaru stone, acrylic, graphite, acrylic ink, and plaster of Paris on framed canvas (white)
54.5 x 45 x 3.5 cm
SOLD
In Private Collection, Timaru (New Zealand)
