Shania Janine

Lift the lids of these nine straw marquetry boxes to discover translated letters written by first-generation Filipino immigrants in Southampton. Each box is adorned with branded logos corresponding to the key items within the letters, revealing the emotional significance behind each carefully selected item they send.

The Balikbayan box (Balikbayan meaning "a Filipino visiting or returning to the Philippines") is a cherished tradition that began in the 1970s, when Filipino diaspora worldwide started sending large cardboard boxes filled with essentials and gifts to their homeland. The title "Sending Love to Home and Home to Love" carries a dual meaning: the Filipino diaspora sends love through objects and while sharing pieces of their new home with loved ones.

This work combines the experience of the box and envelope, incorporating Filipino visual elements referencing jeepneys, signwriting and straw marquetry. Using cardboard and packaging tape reflects the Balikbayan box's essence, while combining traditional straw marquetry with modern brands demonstrates how love transforms everyday objects within this tradition. This project not only documents a vital Filipino cultural practice, but celebrates the persistence of love across oceans.

Sending love 6,864 miles away.

Typeface Credits: Aaron Amar's "Cubao," "Kawit," "Quiapo," and "Mabuhay" by Clara Cayosa