Jaehwa Bernardo

Thomas Godin. Photo by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

'When Tides Bloom': French artist Thomas Godin's love letter to PH

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760526634032e5171087-1a3c-4816-bd98-d51245cf7780.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Thomas Godin. Photo by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News</div>Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the Philippine landscape took center stage at French artist Thomas Godin’s latest exhibit in Manila, “When Tides Bloom,” which opened Tuesday, October 14, at Whitespace in Makati. Using the intricate intaglio printmaking technique, the Brittany-based artist captivated Filipino audiences with works that merge European craftsmanship and tropical inspiration.Godin, who first visited the Philippines years ago, shared that his deep affection for the country and its people stems from the similarities he discovered between Brittany and the Philippines.“The Breton people, just like Filipinos, live by the sea, through the sea, and thanks to the sea. It connects us — it’s like God’s gift,” Godin said. “I grew up with my feet in the ocean and my hands in the soil. There is nothing more beautiful than to look up at the sky and dive into nature.”The Manila exhibit showcased 80 original pieces, all painstakingly created in his studio in Brittany and flown to the Philippines. Some took as long as a year to complete.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760526807336bd5a94fb-a2ab-4fed-8630-70c4e077e3c8.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>Recalling his first trip to the country, Godin shared, “The first time I flew to the Philippines, I saw the golden sun, the blue volcanoes — and I went crazy! Maybe there’s a part of me that’s Filipino because I love this country so much.”Godin discovered the Philippines through his childhood best friend Jacques Branellec, whose father hails from Brittany and whose mother is Filipino-Japanese. Branellec’s family founded the world-renowned Jewelmer brand, famous for its golden South Sea pearls. It was through Branellec’s invitation that Godin first set foot in the Philippines — and fell in love with its beauty.He has since visited Palawan, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, and Siargao, finding common threads between the beaches of Brittany and those of the Philippines.“The sunrise and sunset have the same colors. The sea, the sand, the underwater life — it’s like both places share one sea garden filled with richness,” he said.Godin’s creative process is as demanding as it is passionate.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RpK6G8up-Ec?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div>“Intaglio printing is a very complicated process — you have to try and fail again and again to achieve what you want,” he explained. “I draw everything by hand, etch it, then color the plate manually before printing it on paper. I also use large plates and polychromic techniques, which make each piece unique.”Godin is also among the artists invited by the Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger Studio, the world’s oldest stained-glass workshop, which has been commissioned to create the new stained-glass windows for Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. He was also tapped to design windows for the tallest Cathedral in Brittany Le Kreisker Saint Pol de Léon.Godin’s love for the Philippines goes beyond admiration — it has inspired him to give back. He recently established a foundation to help Filipino artists visit Brittany and create art in his studio.“I want to invite Filipino artists to my place in Brittany. I have a big studio with large machines, and I want them to come and create art there,” he shared.After the Manila exhibition, the 80 pieces of “When Tides Bloom“ will return to France, where they will be exhibited once again — continuing their journey between two seas, two cultures, and one artist’s boundless passion.

Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the Philippine landscape took center stage at French artist Thomas Godin’s latest exhibit in Manila 'When Tides Bloom.'

Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the Philippine landscape took center stage at French artist Thomas Godin’s latest exhibit in Manila 'When Tides Bloom.'

'When Tides Bloom' is French artist Thomas Godin's love letter to PH

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

People, Culture, and Events

'When Tides Bloom' is French artist Thomas Godin's love letter to PH

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 15, 2025 07:46 PM PHT

Read More:

art

Thomas Godin

Whitespace Manila

When Tides Bloom

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.