Anonymity & Identity as a Photographer; Behind a Lens Through a Towel with Bimpoman

Artist Name: Bimpoman

*Bimpo is Towel in Filipino. Bimpoman does not show his face in any photograph and covers his face with a bimpo.*

Age: I prefer to keep that a mystery 😉

Where I'm From: Manila, Philippines

Formats I Like Using:

I primarily explore photography and film, weaving together fashion and fine art with a deep focus on emotion and aura. My work drifts between high fashion, editorial, and conceptual photography, often infused with a surreal touch, blurring the lines between reality and reverie. I embrace mixed media, allowing textures, shadows, and form to merge organically. Each frame is an exploration—an attempt to distill presence, energy, and the unspoken poetry that lingers between moments.

What I'm Currently Working On:

I’m immersed in multiple projects, balancing exhibitions, collaborations, and expanding into live performance art. Recently, I’ve completed major exhibitions and participated in an art summit, pushing my creative boundaries further. I’m also deepening my collaborations across various industries, working with artists and designers in both high fashion and fine art, exploring new intersections between disciplines.

What About Your Surroundings, Environments, and Upbringing Interested You?

I’ve always been drawn to the tension between beauty and chaos—the way fleeting moments hold silent narratives, where even the smallest shift of light can redefine a scene. Pain, like art, shapes and refines. Hardship carves depth, and mistakes become blueprints for reinvention. Spontaneity fuels creation, allowing raw, unfiltered expression, while anonymity keeps the art pure—free from ego, expectation, or identity. With a background in engineering, I embrace experimentation, breaking structures to reconstruct something unbound. Merging technical precision with artistic intuition, I explore the limitless possibilities of analog and digital art, pushing beyond convention to capture the essence of what is felt but unseen.

When Was the First Time You Met Photography? How Did You Feel?

It wasn’t love at first sight—it was salvation at first click. Photography found me in an unplanned moment, like stumbling upon a hidden door to a world I never knew I needed. The first time an image felt right, something inside me shifted. It became my way of expressing what words couldn’t—an escape, a release, a language of its own. From then on, photography wasn’t just about seeing; it was about feeling, healing, and translating the intangible into something real.

How Did You Find Your Visual Literacy? Why Are You Attracted to Certain Images More Than Others?

My visual literacy comes from emotion first, technique second. Without formal training, my eye developed through experience, observation, and intuition, sharpening over time like muscle memory. I navigate photography with a heightened awareness of three-dimensional space, reading light, movement, and energy beyond the frame. I’m drawn to images that feel raw, surreal, and immersive—ones that pull you in and reveal something new the longer you look. A strong image isn’t about technical perfection; it’s about how it lingers, how it shifts your perception, and how it makes you feel.

Tell Us About a Personal Photo Project. Is This Story Inspired by Personal Reasons or Others?

One project that stands out is a series exploring identity and anonymity, reflecting my own artistic journey. It wasn’t just about obscuring faces but capturing presence beyond definition. This project was deeply personal, mirroring my choice to let the art speak for itself. Each year, I curate a recurring theme—a guiding thread rather than a strict plan—allowing room for spontaneity. The unexpected moments, problem-solving on the spot, and raw improvisation fuel me the most, proving that the unplanned often holds the most truth.

What Are the Lessons You Have Learned from This Project?

I learned that absence can be as powerful as presence—what’s unseen often speaks louder than what’s shown. Mystery invites people to project their own emotions, making the work more personal. I also realized that spontaneity fuels creativity. While I set themes as a foundation, the most powerful moments come from embracing the unplanned, solving challenges in real time, and letting intuition take over. Ultimately, art is a dialogue, not a monologue—it’s not just about what I create, but how others connect with it.

Imagine Meeting Someone Who Is Picking Up a Camera for the First Time. What Do You Tell Them?

Remember Dory's advice from Finding Nemo – "just keep swimming." Embrace the journey, not just the destination. Avoid comfort; learn from experiences and mistakes. Stay humble, work diligently, and push boundaries. Always create, take risks, and strive for growth. It's challenging, but I always aim to thrive. Forget perfection. Shoot what pulls you in, what lingers, what moves you—don’t chase what’s “right.” The technical side will come, but your perspective is everything. Break rules, embrace mistakes, and let the \unexpected guide you. Photography isn’t about imitation; it’s about revealing the unseen, translating feeling into form. Let your work speak before you do.