Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Layered and Embellished Trapunto Paintings Exude Spirit in Pacita Abad’s First Retrospective

A hand-sewn canvas hanging depicting a mask. Vibrant colors of paint sit atop sewn textures, and different shapes house areas of color.

Image courtesy of Pacita Abad Art Estate, shared with permission

Having created more than 5,000 paintings in her lifetime, traveled the world, and shown in over 200 exhibitions, Pacita Abad (1946-2004) was one of the most prolific and lauded Filipina-American artists. Now on view at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, her first retrospective showcases over 100 of her bold, distinctive works.

Abad was born in Basco, Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines. As her parents were politicians, the young artist initially had the aspirations of following in their diplomatic footsteps, and she avidly organized student demonstrations against the authoritarian Marcos regime, which eventually led to the political persecution of both Abad and her family. To escape this unrest and find security, her parents urged her to move overseas.

During what was initially a pit stop in California, Abad’s amazement with the unencumbered vibrancy and freedom of expression in San Francisco acted as a catalyst for her abundant life-long career. Informed by her experiences with despotism, political refuge, and immigration, Abad began to create work underscoring these disquietudes.

 

Four large canvas hangings on view in a gallery. Each is vibrant and showcases a mask made with blocks of color and stitching techniques.

Exhibition view at MCAD, Manila, (2018). Image courtesy of Walker Art Center, shared with permission

The years that followed involved travel, living in a number of different countries, and connecting with creative communities in every hemisphere. Abad was able to learn artistic techniques from different cultures and gather materials from diverse environments, which she would later incorporate into her own practice, especially her mask painting series.

Along the gallery’s pink walls at the Walker, hand-stitched meandering lines run across canvas hanging more than two meters high. Though it was not Abad’s intention for her art to be seen from both sides, viewers are able to experience her work in a more intimate way by observing the artist’s hand, evident from the delicate stitching on each backside. Part of her signature trapunto painting technique, these sewn sections of canvas puff up with padding as geometric patterns house vibrant areas of color. Calling to Africa’s masks and abstract carving, Tibet’s Thangka tapestries, and Italy’s trapunto techniques, Abad’s series of masks are a conglomeration of community encounters as well as real stories of strength and strife inspired by those that she met along the way.

Abad’s retrospective is on view at the Walker Art Center until September 3. Later this month, Tina Kim Gallery in New York will be showcasing Abad’s work in a solo exhibition, as well.

 

Two hand-sewn canvas hangings depicting masks. Vibrant colors of paint sit atop sewn textures, and different shapes house areas of color. On the left, lighter colors are used such as bright hues of pink, green, purple, yellow, and orange. On the left darker hues of blue, brown, and black along with jewel-tones are used.

Image courtesy of Pacita Abad Art Estate, shared with permission

Three large wall hangings of painted and stitched canvas. In bold and vibrant colors, masks are depicted with paint.

Exhibition view at the Walker (2023). Image courtesy of Walker Art Center, shared with permission

Two hand-sewn canvas hangings depicting masks. Vibrant colors of paint sit atop sewn textures, and different shapes house areas of color.

Image courtesy of Pacita Abad Art Estate, shared with permission

Pacita Abad stands proudly in front of one of her mask trapunto paintings. She wears a long dress with patterns similar to her painting.

Abad with the work. Image courtesy of Walker Art Center, shared with permission

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Layered and Embellished Trapunto Paintings Exude Spirit in Pacita Abad’s First Retrospective appeared first on Colossal.



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