Toys, paintings on world’s rapid urbanization featured in exhibit
Emerging visual artist Jadon Kilayko reflects on the pace of urban transformation in ‘SERO,’ featuring 10 art toys and 11 acrylic paintings that blend pop surrealism with abstraction.
CONTEMPORARY visual artist Jadon Kilayko.
Emerging visual artist Jadon Kilayko returns to his surrealist background as he examines the rapid urbanization everywhere in his solo exhibition SERO.
‘ANO Ini I’ by Jadon Kilayko, acrylic on canvas, 12x12 inches, 2025.
The upcoming event features a collection of his recent works, to include 10 art toys and 11 paintings of acrylic on canvas. These encapsulate and showcase the young talent’s personal observations of the ongoing development both in cities and provinces.
Born in 2004 with roots from Bacolod, the self-taught contemporary visual artist’s pieces revolve on pop surrealism infused with abstraction, and delve into themes of introspection and reminiscence.
“The word sero comes from tapasero, the Hiligaynon and Ilonggo term for sugarcane cutters in Negros,” Kilayko explained.
‘SUGARLANDIA 2099 I’ by Jadon Kilayko, acrylic on canvas, 12x12 inches, 2025.
“As a proud son of the island, I try to ensure that most, if not all, of my works carry traces of my lived experience and the Negrense culture,” he added.
Deeply retrospective and curious, his creations reflect the movement of change — ever-evolving, yet grounded. His encounters as an artist and designer narrate the themes of his obras, as his gaze renders new perspectives into the imperfectly perfect essence of existence. Thus, he explores the profound notion of what it truly means to be human.
SERO likewise serves as a moment of reflection for the artist — a necessary pause to look back on the growth and to wonder where else these can take him.
In this exhibition, the Industrial Design student from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) likewise invites viewers to adopt a more child-like and whimsical point of view while observing the environment around them.
Despite embarking on his artistic journey a mere five years ago, Kilayko has already held three solo exhibitions: PDA (2021) at the Grey Room, Art District and Unknown (2022) at the B17 Art Space, both in Bacolod City, and Where/Saan/Diin (2025) at the Ysobel Art Gallery in Taguig City. He has likewise participated in over 30 group shows and fairs across Bacolod, Cebu, Manila and Bangkok.
SERO is on view until 7 March at Ysobel Art Gallery on the second floor of Shops at Serendra, 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.