hello!

anata laylay (they/them) is a trans nonbinary Filipinx curator, ancestral medicine worker, and artist from the rivers and hills. Coming from Hagonoy, Bulacan and Catanauan, Quezon, anata laylay is currently living on stolen and unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ land. Their art practice centres Filipinx history, healing, Kapwa, and the QTBIPOC experience led by community collaboration and slow, intentional creation.

Over the last five years, anata laylay has done programming for The Luna Collective Film Festival, Vancouver Queer Film Festival, and DOXA Documentary Film Festival, and Sunstroke Magazine. In 2023, they curated their first gallery exhibition, "bahay na babalik-balikan (a home to always return to)" at The James Black Gallery, showcasing works discussing shared histories, ancestral practices, and revolution. In 2024, they joined Kamila Sediego’s play, “Homecoming” with an art installation titled, "lagi akong uuwi (i will always come home)," at The Cultch and The Evergreen Cultural Centre, showcasing works on forced migration, lineage, and connection to home.

Outside of curation, anata laylay also partakes in community research, colour-grading for film, and graphic design. They have worked on films such as "Sinvergüenzilla in First Kiss" and "Don’t Text Your Ex," and contributed as a graphic designer for Luna Collective Magazine, Collective 4891, So Mayer's 2023 TLC Podcast, and It Gets Better Canada.

anata laylay is deeply focused on community organizing, activism, and continuing to learn and share knowledge as a Filipinx healer and ritual worker. Through continued learning with Filipinx elders and mentors, anata laylay is deepening their ancestral medicine knowledge and continuing to share food knowledge, Hilot, and ancestral altar spaces with their communities. They are committed to honouring their ancestors, community care, decolonization and fighting for national democracy and genuine liberation!

anata.laylay@gmail.com

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@anata.laylay