Chloe Caday’s, Sirena and Bulan, is part of her latest series, Diwata’s Song. Tracing back to pre-colonial Philippines, Chloe Caday retells stories of her motherland through Diwata’s Song, honouring her culture that is deeply rooted in folklore and mythology. Within this exhibition, Caday focuses particularly on the diwatas—spiritual beings that guard and nurture forests, caves, land or bodies of water. As a result, the paintings are a culmination of stories about these goddesses of the moon, stars, waters and sunrise, stories of forbidden loves, midnight mystique and the peculiar allure of flowers in bloom.

In Filipino folklore, the Sirena is known to be one of the diwatas of the seas and guardians of the water. In one ancient Ilokano story, the sovereign ruler Maginoo Palasipas was admiring the full moon when he heard an alluring melody from afar. Following the mystical sound, he came upon a maiden in the waters, with long hair and sang with the most enchanting voice. Palasipas asked who she was, to which she answered, “I am the diwata of Binalatongan.” Recognising who she was, Palasipas thanked the sirena for her kindness towards his people, for guarding the seas and rescuing his fishermen from drowning and guiding them back to shore during a storm.