Artists offer new perspectives of Guam’s ocean at ‘Gineftao' exhibit at Guam Museum

By Ron Rocky Coloma

When drone pilot and freediver Mike Quitugua pieced together more than 1,600 photographs into a single image, he saw Guam from an angle few people ever will.

“I decided to create an orthomosaic photo that combined about 1,600 photos,” Quitugua said. “It created an image that would not be visible unless you were looking down from space.”

Quitugua is one of the contributing artists featured in “Gineftao: Understanding the Ocean, Honoring Our Home” which opened on Sept. 2 and will run until Oct. 3 at the Guam Museum.

His work blends technical precision with cultural storytelling, presenting aerial views of southern Guam, including his family’s home village of Malesso.

“My family is from the south, particularly Malesso. I wanted to showcase why I love going there, with all the scenic nature and turquoise blue lagoon,” he said.

The exhibit, which highlights CHamoru interpretations of ocean stewardship, also includes the underwater photography of Stanley Au. For him, freediving and photography merge into a practice that captures marine wildlife in sharp detail.

“I love taking photographs. It's my passion. Freediving is my other passion, and underwater photography is a combination of both of those passions,” Au said. “Seeing all the details on marine wildlife through the pictures I take really helped me develop a strong relationship with the animals living in the ocean.”

Both artists interpret the CHamoru concept of “gineftao” through their work. Quitugua focuses on shifting perspectives, noting that “seeing them from above makes it feel like new. I want to give people a new viewpoint and thus a new appreciation of the same place.”

Au connects the term to generosity, explaining, “Through my photographs, I want my viewers to feel connected with the marine animals shown, so they can remember them after they leave the exhibition.”

The two also see art as a bridge to environmental awareness. “Art is seen as valuable, enough that some people want it on their bodies,” Quitugua said. “If people see the natural world the same way, as something with inherent value, my hope is they would want to keep it in its natural form.”

Au echoed that belief. “Through beautiful art, we can encourage curiosity in our viewers and inspire them to learn more about the environment and how to protect it,” he said.

Together, their perspectives offer visitors both aerial and underwater windows into Guam’s environment, grounding the cultural theme of “gineftao” in the realities of conservation and community.

Subscribe to

our digital

monthly edition