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POCHOLO MANALAC
“I don’t sculpt objects—I design materials that create themselves, embedding process, time, and transformation into the work itself. My approach has always been to break things down to their core principles—because when you understand the fundamentals, you can BREAK THE RULES AND create THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER EXISTED.”
At six years old, Pocholo Manalac wanted to be a scientist. Fascinated by how things were made—and how they could be broken down, refined, and rebuilt—he spent his childhood dissecting objects, experimenting with materials, and questioning the boundaries of structure and form.
RATHER THAN FOLLOWING CONVENTIONAL METHODS, I INSTINCTIVELY RELIED ON FIRST-PRINCIPLES THINKING — BREAKING THINGS DOWN TO THEIR MOST FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WORKED, THEN USING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO CREATE SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW.
This early obsession evolved into a lifelong pursuit of material innovation and developing proprietary techniques that transform raw matter into entirely new compositions. His background in material science and experimental engineering led to a radical approach: rather than sculpting in traditional forms, he designs and engineers matter itself, constructing surfaces and structures that defy conventional fabrication.
BY PIONEERING NEW REACTIONS, COMPOSITIONS, AND HYBRID MATERIAL TECHIQUES, MANALAC CREATES SCULPTURES THAT EXIST AT THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION —OBJECTS THAT FEEL SIMULTANEOUSLY UNEARTHED FROM AN UNKNOWN ERA AND DEVELOPED THROUGH THE MOST ADVANCED CONTEMPORARY METHODS.
His process is not about imitation or replication—it is about engineering new material behaviors that simply did not exist before. Each piece is an artifact of controlled material evolution, where layers form, transform, and react in ways that are unpredictable yet precise.
THIS CONSTANT REFINEMENT HAS POSITIONED MANALAC AS ONE OF THE MOST TECHNICALLY ADVANCED ARTISTS IN THE FIELD OF MATERIAL-DRIVEN SCULPTURE, WITH COLLECTORS AND INSTITUTIONS RECOGNIZING HIS WORK AS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE EVOLUTION OF CONTEMPORARY ART AND DESIGN.
Manalac’s work has been featured in Popular Science, BluPrint, and National Geographic, reinforcing his reputation as a pioneering force in material experimentation. His sculptures have been acquired by high-profile collectors and international luxury establishments, including Nishane, Morton’s, and other exclusive institutions that value groundbreaking craftsmanship.
WITH A GLOBAL COLLECTOR BASE AND A GROWING PRESENCE IN SINGAPORE AND OTHER KEY ART MARKETS, HIS PIECES ARE SOUGHT AFTER FOR THEIR INTELLECTUAL DEPTH, TECHNICAL MASTERY, AND RARITY.
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