PERLAS DISPLAY (2022–23)
* Type Design
* Art Direction
* Art Direction
Perlas, a sans-serif display typeface, merges the high-contrast attributes of Didot and Bodoni with the ornate grace of Filipino femininity. Initially inspired by winged eyeliner, Perlas evolved from a personal celebration of femininity to a broader critique of female beauty portrayal in the media. It delves into the centralization of white womanhood as the beauty standard, influenced by American imperialism, both in America and the Philippines.
The name "Perlas" (Tagalog and Spanish for "pearl”), questions the impact of the colonial term "The Pearl of the Orient" on the fetishization of Filipino beauty, especially women. This prompts reflection on the significance of Asian beauty being fetishized in America, where mainstream magazines often fail to represent it. Perlas, a cross-cultural display typeface, stands as a cultural narrative, celebrating and critiquing female Filipino identity in a world dominated by Eurocentric beauty ideals.
The name "Perlas" (Tagalog and Spanish for "pearl”), questions the impact of the colonial term "The Pearl of the Orient" on the fetishization of Filipino beauty, especially women. This prompts reflection on the significance of Asian beauty being fetishized in America, where mainstream magazines often fail to represent it. Perlas, a cross-cultural display typeface, stands as a cultural narrative, celebrating and critiquing female Filipino identity in a world dominated by Eurocentric beauty ideals.
