Joy in Colors

Inside MoCAF, colors play an important role in artistic and festive experiences.

Words Rica Mae Labbao
Photos courtesy of Janey Hingpit
December 17, 2025

We often see the happiness of the holidays in glistening decorations and cheerful Christmas carols, but in the booths of the Modern and Contemporary Art Festival (MoCAF) this December, the jubilation of the yuletide season is captured in immersive colors.

In its very first holiday-themed edition, MoCAF decked the grounds and floors of Opus Mall, bringing the Christmas season to life in a very special way. The exhibits are adorned with vivid paintings that exemplify the use of color as a tool for exuding a festive mood.

Leveraging hues and tinges, RAKI and LAUD caught the attention of onlookers with their catchy, bright-colored paintings, signaling a powerful surge of joyful emotion for the Christmas season.

Nostalgic Carol to Colorful Paintings 

RAKI’s art style blends modern pop art signatures and nostalgic backgrounds, creating pieces that are both visually and emotionally appealing. 

During “MoCAF: The Christmas Edit!,” RAKI’s booth drew heavy foot traffic and curious eyes with his colorful, inviting pieces that signaled Christmas was coming—and that gifts were needed.

Through his “12 Days of Christmas” painting collection, a vibrant rendition of the popular Christmas song of the same name takes center stage, perfectly conveying the holiday mood from a playful and fresh perspective.

From his spot-on, dashing colors to his trademark characters, RAKI’s collection shines with yuletide spirit. With the carol on repeat in his head, he envisioned gifts wrapped not in paper but in the vibrant colors he incorporated into his works.

“I really wanted to have a grid-style layout of artworks with diverse colors—12 days, 12 paintings in a 12 x 12-inch orientation. A timely piece for December, which is the 12th month,” RAKI shared.

Bright Colors, Deep Meanings

For LAUD, the fleeting moments matter most because oftentimes, peak happiness is found in moments that only last a jiffy. 

Inside the MoCAF Discoveries booth, LAUD’s ‘Make a Wish Before It Fades’ sits quietly yet strikingly. Bold, immersive hues encapsulate a short-lived but momentous moment, representing a lasting hold on wishes and aspirations.

“Make a Wish Before It Fades is about fleeting moments—the kind of hopes, dreams, and emotions that come and go quietly if we don’t acknowledge them,” he expressed.

The piece boasts vibrant colors that exude a pop of excitement and joy, perfectly complementing the festive chaos of Christmas while grounding the hype in something more reflective and meaningful.

He reflected on the power of color in evoking emotion and introspection, saying, “Colors play a vital role in shaping how a piece is felt before it is understood. They set the emotional tone and guide the viewer’s experience, whether it’s joy, nostalgia, calm, or longing. In my work, color acts as a bridge between emotion and imagination, helping transform a simple image into a sensory and emotional experience.”

Both RAKI and LAUD conveyed deep feelings through their pieces, translating emotion into vibrant colors that breathe life into whimsical paintings—perfect for a quick yet memorable art experience during the yuletide season.