Abdulmari Asia Imao was born in 1936 and raised in Sulu, a province located in the southernmost tip of the Philippines. Fenced by the Sulu Sea in the north and the Celebes Sea in the south, his island upbringing and proudly Muslim background combine and reveal themselves in his works through his animated use of folk imagery. But his contribution to the growth of Philippine art spans beyond the wider use of Islamic motifs, especially after being the first person from the Bangsamoro region to be conferred the title of National Artist for Sculpture.

Although Abdulmari Imao originally trained in the discipline of sculpture, Imao still executed artworks in other media. His paintings feature the same subject matter, like graceful fish...