HOLLOW CITY a solo exhibition by Bree Esplanada

Hollow City is a solo exhibition by Bree Esplanada at Galerie Inatù, Atua Midtown.

The designer’s first solo exhibition opened last Saturday, June 7, and features his

illustrated works, fashion design, and special figures designed in collaboration with

Happy Garaje. Each piece is a personal exploration of emotional spaces–quiet, often

misunderstood places that are shaped by solitude, memory, and imagination. The

exhibit challenges the meaning of "hollow" as being empty-- it is not a void, but

rather a vessel with the potential to hold meaning, emotion, and creativity.

Bree’s body of work draws inspiration from stories that embrace the strange and

the surreal: stories by Tim Burton, Ransom Riggs’ Miss Peregrine’s Home for

Peculiar Children, the haunting tales of the Brothers Grimm, and the eerie cinematic

worlds like Dawn of the Dead.

“These narratives remind me that the peculiar and the melancholic can coexist with beauty, strength, and humanity,” Bree shares.

“My fascination with nature – especially giant, twisted trees – stems from

childhood, when I would climb and find comfort in their presence, seeking refuge

from chaos around me. These trees became symbols of safety, growth, and silent

witness. In my illustrations, I would often highlight roots and branches reflecting

inner tangles, connections, and the complex paths of growing up and apart from

loved ones.

”Though the designer’s art is often described as moody and melancholic, his art

exemplifies resilience and the ways in which illustration and design has become a

medium to process, heal and to express what words cannot. The rhythmic sounds

of nature – flowing water, rolling thunder, the forming of dark clouds – bring him

calm and echo in the emotional tone of his work. Thus, Hollow City is a space where

solitude becomes strength, and the hollow becomes a haven for voice, vision and

transformation.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Bree Esplanada is a multidisciplinary illustrator and fashion designer whose creative journey

began at age nine. Initially captivated by anime’ characters, Bree’s work evolved to include

intricate landscapes and imaginative compositions reflecting a growing depth in storytelling

and artistic exploration.

By age thirteen, Bree discovered fascination with the macabre – sparked by the whimsical

yet eerie characters of Tim Burton’s works such as Beetlejuice. This marked a pivotal

moment, shifting his perception of the macabre from something disturbing to a space for

beauty, mystery and reinterpretation. Inspired by Filipino folklore, he began to incorporate

culturally rich characters and themes into his illustrations, creating a unique visual language

that blends heritage with imagination.

At sixteen, Bree expanded his artistic expression into the world of fashion design. Merging

illustration with textile and form. He began incorporating his artwork into clothing concepts,

offering a wearable narrative that showcases his signature style – whimsical, thoughtful and

deeply personal.

Through every phase of his journey, Bree has continued to push the boundaries of creative

storytelling, using his art to reflect identity, cultural legacy and the evolving definition of

beauty in the strange and surreal.

Bree Esplanada’s Hollow City is available for public viewing from June 9 to June 28,

2025. Galerie Inatù is located on the 2nd floor of Atua Midtown, open from Monday

to Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM. For sales and inquiries, kindly send a message through

the gallery’s official Instagram page (@galerie_inatu) or through email at info.galerieinatu@gmail.com.