On view currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila are the works of Olivia d’Aboville, Marionne Contreras, Monica Delgado, and Michelle Pérez. Each of these artists shares a unique perspective on the contemporary arts. The exhibit, entitled “Material Instincts,” is meant to complement the hypnotic repetition of Peter Zimmermann’s “Painting Rules.”

While Peter’s works make use of cloned sticker visuals and lucid, dreamlike paintings to trap the eyes, “Material Instincts” shows how the four women thrive in their chosen mediums: textiles for Olivia, felt for Marionne, and paint for Monica and Michelle. In this side of the museum, your eyes wander, searching out the little details that stand out in each artist’s work.

Olivia presents pieces made of handwoven abaca and spun polyester in her “Fields of Color” series. Here, we notice the intricate ways the textile can be played around with to form the desired image. Meanwhile, Marionne’s collection of works shows how fabrics can be sewn together in a vivid display. It’s a loud, playful, and trippy experience to get lost in.

On the painters’ corner, we see just how far Monica and Michelle can take the medium. Monica’s works challenge the notion of two-dimensional painting. From afar, her paintings look like collage-style works, making use of paper and cloth to form melting visuals. Upon closer inspection, though, you’ll notice these are all just intricately placed layers of acrylic paint on mounted wood. Michelle, on the other hand, works using elastomeric paint. This kind of paint has a certain thickness to it, giving it a bold, polished look. Her works consist of painted blocks forming a larger picture, akin to the kind you can see made in “Minecraft.” Peering closely, you’ll find every block has its own unique identity, as no two blocks are exact copies of each other.