Can IK ( Indigenous knowledge) Be Aesthetic? Conversations on Culture and Creation

Ernst June Camilo Agbayani
Jan 7
2 min read

Updated: Jan 8

Can Ik Be Aesthetic? Conversations on Culture and Creation, held on November 30, 2025, was a thought-provoking dialogue segment of Habing Katutubo 2025 at the SMX Convention Center Aura. Framed as an open conversation, the session examined how Indigenous culture—particularly Ik (self/identity)—intersects with contemporary aesthetics, creativity, and design practice.

Rethinking Aesthetics Through Indigenous Identity

The session challenged conventional notions of beauty and aesthetics by asking a central question: Can Indigenous identity be aesthetic without losing meaning? Through reflective discussion, the forum emphasized that Indigenous aesthetics are not trends or visual motifs, but expressions shaped by land, history, and lived experience.

Voices in Conversation

The dialogue was led by Karminn Yangot and Karen Calderon, who guided the conversation on culture, creation, and responsibility. Drawing from their respective practices, the speakers explored how Indigenous narratives can be expressed in contemporary forms without erasure, distortion, or commodification.

Photo by: Kilo Serrano Portrait Photography

Culture, Creation, and Accountability

Central to the discussion was the idea of accountability in creative work. The speakers emphasized that engaging with Indigenous culture requires consent, collaboration, and contextual understanding. Designers and creators were encouraged to move beyond surface aesthetics and toward processes that honor source communities and cultural protocols.

Open Dialogue and Community Reflection

An interactive exchange with participants followed, allowing students, designers, and cultural workers to reflect on their own creative practices. The conversation highlighted the importance of listening, unlearning, and continuous dialogue in shaping culturally respectful design.

Photo by: Kilo Serrano Portrait Photography

A Necessary Conversation Within Habing Katutubo

As part of Habing Katutubo 2025, Can Ik Be Aesthetic? complemented the runways and weaving demonstrations by providing critical reflection. It reinforced the event’s core message: that Indigenous culture is not a visual resource to be mined, but a living system of knowledge deserving of respect and care.

Through conversation and shared learning, the session affirmed that when culture leads creation, aesthetics gain depth, purpose, and integrity.