BIRINGAN: A Myth Reimagined
By Harvey Nichol | From Issue One (Fall 2025)
A futuristic bronze-like sculpture of a humanoid figure with a serene, expressionless face and a radiant halo of metallic tendrils behind its head. Mechanical wings made of fragmented architectural structures extend from its sides, and exposed cables and metal ribs form its torso, blending ancient design motifs with sci-fi machinery.
Biringan: A Myth Reimagined is a 9-foot-tall mixed-media assemblage sculpture that fuses ancient Filipino folklore with elements of futurism, creating a dynamic narrative that transcends cultural boundaries. The sculpture’s head represents Apolaki, the Sun God in Tagalog mythology, embodying light, power, and resilience. Inspired by the mythical city of Biringan, which translates to “where one finds the lost,” this work imagines a futuristic city shrouded in mystery, a place where the forgotten, the displaced, and the lost are reborn in new forms—a city that exists beyond time.
Blending the legend of Garuda with the folklore of the Manananggal, the sculpture weaves together multiple mythologies into one. Combining organic and mechanical structures, the piece explores the intersection of ancient mysticism and futuristic vision.
Harvey Nichol is a Filipino Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Calgary whose work explores themes of folklore, identity, and cultural revival. Drawing from his roots in the slums of Tondo, Manila, and his journey as an immigrant in Canada, Harvey uses art to retell ancestral and communal stories through a contemporary lens. His practice blends sculpture, painting, and street art into what he calls "social-folk-expressionism"—a style rooted in reclaiming history and amplifying the voices of the marginalized. His sculptural work often references mythologies and oral traditions, transforming public spaces into platforms for storytelling and cultural memory. Through projects like Aklas, his independent comic series, and large-scale public installations, Harvey connects youth and community members to narratives that inspire reflection, pride, and resistance. His art invites people to imagine new futures while honouring the wisdom of the past.
