Inspired by life lesson of Elim Chew from Singapore, "See things from your heart and not just with your eyes."
The artist Francis Sollano shares about the work, "As what Elim has shared, 'When you see things with your heart, and you do things with your heart, you put everything into it, versus just doing things for the sake of it.' This piece of thought speaks volumes of how others are fortunate enough to be working on things they love to do, while others aren’t as fortunate, perhaps by circumstance or other life factors."
"This visual rendering of Elim Chew features two contrasting elements – the linear urban landscape and seemingly organic cardiac forms. I am trying to visualize that while it is difficult to marry passion and financial stability, it is actually possible. Like that of those organic shapes becoming the foundation of those structures (which represent work), we are able to say that passion at our work can reawaken and realign us to what is meaningful for us."
Francis Sollano is a multi-disciplinary creative focused on social practice art. He pioneered trashion in the Philippines and is known for his contemporary takes on upcycling garbage into wearable art, installations, and commercial products.
Co-founder of Youth for Livable Communities (YLC), he has been promoting sustainability advocacies and nation-building. With his vision, YLC received Bayanihan sa Daan Award from the Office of the Philippine President and received the award as one of the most Accomplished Youth Organizations of the Philippines in 2017 for their programs on developing youth potential.
Sollano is the only Filipino recognized by World Economic Forum as a Cultural Leader. In 2015, he received the Elevate Award from the British Council for the protection of children through play and safe spaces. He is also the recipient of the United Nations Environmental Program Fellowship Award as one of Asia Pacific's leaders on sustainable urban design.
World Wisdom Map is a unique project that documents the life lesson and story of people from each of the 195 countries in the world. The collation and exhibition of human wisdom is presented on a digital, artistic and interactive world map. The data has also been designed into education and art resources. This consciousness project combines visual, and wisdom anthropology that exists in the world and further sparks awareness about the diversity of lifestyles, as well as the coping mechanism that people employ to create a meaningful life. Using the tool of technology, it is easier to connect and exchange information to ignite hope and global participation in an unbiased and creative way.
World Wisdom Map is conceptualised by Project FUEL, in association with Singapore International Foundation.