Faces and Flora: A Philippine Native Plant Photography Exhibition
National Museum of Natural History, Philippines
February - May 2024
Faces and Flora: A Philippine Native Plant Photography Exhibition highlights the deep connection between art and natural science through this display of images that show a creative embodiment of Philippine indigenous plants. Winner of the prestigious 2022 Fujifilm GFX Challenge Grant, photographer Jan Zoilo Rafael Mayo produced this series of portraits that combine his passion and advocacy for native plants and his unique ability to capture the human gaze.
This exhibition materialized through a collaborative effort with botanists from the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), the University of the Philippines - Institute of Biology (UPIB), and the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative, Inc. (PTI). The aim is to contribute to ongoing conversations about our profound interconnectedness with nature, emphasizing the pivotal role of both native and endemic flora in our ecosystem.
Mayo's intersection of fashion and beauty photography extends beyond commerce, acting as a catalyst for public engagement. By seamlessly merging scientific knowledge with artistic expression through photography, this exhibition seeks to educate Filipinos on the importance of indigenous plants, urging a collective effort against introducing non-native species into our landscapes. The native species featured in this exhibition were among the many species in the living laboratory of UPIB - Energy Development Corporation BINHI (EDC-BINHI) Arboretum, which were cultivated for public education.
Creators, partners, and artists involved in this exhibition aspire to further strengthen collaborations with scientists and researchers. Their overarching goal is to facilitate dialogues on environmental issues through the lens of popular art media and contemporary approaches, ensuring the education, appreciation, and enjoyment of generations to come.
Faces and Flora: A Philippines and Japan Native Plant Photography Exhibition
Intermediatheque Museum, Tokyo, Japan
July - November 2025
One of the main activity policies of the JP Tower Museum INTERMEDIATHEQUE is “Art & Science” to explore the intersection of art and science. Accordingly, in our exhibitions, we attempt to highlight the artistic appeal and value of the University of Tokyo’s academic specimens – the wide-ranging specimens and artifacts collected, produced, and/or used for scientific purposes.
Simultaneously, Art & Science attempts to transform art into science. What attracts artists, and how do they create art? Their creative processes can be an intriguing research subject.
In this special exhibition, “Faces and Flora: Philippines and Japan Native Plant Photography,” Filipino photographer Jan Zoilo Rafael Mayo presents his interpretation of the beauty of flowers and faces. Flowers have been beloved by people since ancient times. Faces, however, reflect people’s attractiveness. By combining these two elements, Mayo pursues new art forms and attempts to express his sensibility in the Intermediatheque exhibition space.
In 2024, the National Museum of Natural History in Manila, the Philippines, held an exhibition of Mayo’s photographs titled “Faces and Flora: A Philippine Native Plant Photography Exhibition.” Building on this exhibition, which drew inspiration from the native flora of the Philippines, this subsequent exhibition, developed under the unique design direction of Intermediatheque, evokes the artistic expression of plants and people, including Japan’s native flora.