Walking into Gallery C at Conrad Manila creates a sense of entering a space infused with deliberate energy. Color resonate softly on the walls, symbols recur with subtle confidence, and each artwork conveys aspirations of equilibrium, prosperity, progress, or serenity. This is the essence of Spectrum of Abundance, the latest solo exhibition by artist and corporate leader Lizanne Uychaco, and it’s as thoughtful as it is visually striking.
As we gallop into the Year of the Horse, this show feels like the perfect way to invite positive energy into your life. The exhibit, which debuted earlier this month, features 24 fresh mixed-media works that continue Uychaco’s signature exploration of Chinese symbolism, Feng Shui philosophy, and contemporary visual language. Rooted in her Chinese-Filipino heritage, the collection reflects a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on what abundance really means today.
Meet the Artist: The Philippines’ Leading Feng Shui Artist
Lizanne Uychaco is recognized as the nation’s foremost Feng Shui artist. She integrates her Filipino-Chinese heritage into works that blend enduring traditions with modern approaches. She began her painting practice over 30 years ago as a means to alleviate the demands of her executive responsibilities. Her formal entry into the art scene occurred in the early 90s through the Ayala Museum’s program for emerging talents, followed by numerous exhibitions. These include her initial solo presentation, “Heaven and Earth,” at Conrad Manila in June 2019, and the subsequent “Colors of Prosperity” at the same venue in January 2023.
Her fascination with Feng Shui sparked early on. During childhood, a significant illness interrupted her education, prompting her family to seek help from a Feng Shui specialist. The expert gave her with a special charm, a “magic coin” intended to promote health, wealth, and favorable outcomes. Wearing it as a pendant, she fully recovered and has maintained good health thereafter. Modeled after the Qing Dynasty, this coin serves as a central element in her creations, embodying harmony, safeguarding, the equilibrium of yin and yang, abundance, and the continuum of existence.
To this day, she picks up similar coins and jade during her travels, regarding her artworks as contemplative elements that draw beneficial energy. That same spirit of spreading warmth aligns perfectly with Conrad Manila’s welcoming vibe, where her pieces often feature this iconic oriental symbol.
Explore the Exhibit: 24 Exceptional Works
Nestor Jardin curated this exhibition as part of Conrad Manila’s esteemed “Of Art and Wine” series, presenting 24 mixed-media pieces that examine concepts of intention, unity, and prosperity through icons such as dynamic horses and historic coins.
Rather than viewing prosperity as something purely material gain, Uychaco expands the idea into something more holistic: abundance in purpose, harmony, movement, and intention. This is evident in her recurring motifs. Horses, for instance, appear throughout the collection, representing liberty, strength, and forward motion. Ancient coins, layered and repeated, speak to balance and continuity, while calligraphic elements introduce rhythm and grounding.
What distinguishes Spectrum of Abundance is its tangible quality. Uychaco’s background in sculpture, pottery, jewelry, and calligraphy informs every piece, resulting in works that feel layered not just in meaning, but in texture and technique. Paint is built up, surfaces are worked and reworked, and symbols are never merely decorative; they are intentional, placed with care and respect for tradition.
Despite the cultural references, the exhibit remains approachable. It encourages observers to pause and engage, whether or not they are familiar with the symbolism. Each artwork stands confidently on its own, yet together they form a cohesive visual narrative, one that feels especially fitting for the start of a new year, when reflection and renewal are top of mind.
The opening at Conrad Manila drew an intimate crowd of art lovers, business leaders, and longtime supporters of Uychaco’s work. The setting itself proved to be an ideal backdrop: calm, elegant, and quietly luxurious, allowing the pieces to take center stage without distraction. Gallery C continues to establish itself as a space where Filipino artists can present work that bridges heritage and modern expression, and Spectrum of Abundance aligns effortlessly into that vision.
Art With a Purpose
For Uychaco, who is also known for her leadership in corporate governance and workplace inclusion, the exhibit feels like an extension of her broader worldview. There is a sense of balance between discipline and creativity, structure and freedom, qualities that echo both her professional life and her artistic practice. In many ways, the exhibit reads as a visual philosophy: progress anchored in tradition, success guided by intention.
Conrad Manila Of Art and Wine: Lizanne Uychaco Spectrum of Abundance is not an exhibit that overwhelms. Instead, it lingers in memory. Viewers may find themselves drawn back to certain pieces, noticing new details with each pass, an added layer, a repeated symbol, a subtle shift in color. It’s the kind of show that rewards attention and reflection, offering something different depending on where the viewer is in their own journey.
Why Manila’s Art Enthusiasts Should Visit
In Manila, where the vibrant pathways of Binondo converge with contemporary districts in Pasay, Uychaco’s exhibition links our diverse cultural legacy to present-day experiences. Aligned with the Year of the Horse, it emphasizes notions of luck, advancement, and accomplishment that hold particular significance in our society.
The exhibit runs until March 21. Step into Conrad Manila’s Gallery C, soak up the energy of each piece, and carry a little of that harmony and prosperity with you into 2026. In a season often defined by noise and excess, Lizanne Uychaco’s work offers a refreshing pause, a reminder that abundance can be intentional, meaningful, and deeply personal.
