Pacita Abad's Underwater Wilderness Trapuntos at Tina Kim Gallery
The Tina Kim Gallery in New York showcases "Underwater Wilderness," which features a collection of seven trapunto textile paintings by Philippine-American artist Pacita Abad, all created in 1985. These vibrant aquatic scenes, inspired by Abad's scuba diving experiences off the coast of the Philippines, utilize a variety of materials. Key works include "Sepoc Wall" (1985), "Anilao at its Best" (1986), and "Dumaguete’s Underwater Garden" (1987). Abad first exhibited these pieces in 1986 at the Ayala Museum in Manila. Throughout her 32-year artistic journey, she produced over 5,000 works, often focusing on themes related to immigrants and marginalized groups. The exhibition runs until August 16 and coincides with a significant retrospective honoring Abad, who passed away in 2004.
Key facts
- Pacita Abad created seven trapunto textile paintings in 1985 inspired by scuba dives off the Philippine coast
- The exhibition Underwater Wilderness is at Tina Kim Gallery in New York through August 16
- Abad first exhibited these works in 1986 at Ayala Museum in Manila in an immersive installation called Assaulting the Deep Sea
- Abad produced over 5,000 works over 32 years, informed by travels to more than 60 countries
- During the 1980s, Abad embraced crafts like Indonesian batik and Pakistani ralli quilts, contrasting with dominant Minimalism and Conceptualism
- Abad's work shows kinship with feminist artists like Niki de Saint Phalle, Lorraine O’Grady, and Faith Ringgold
- Abad died in 2004, and the exhibition coincides with a major travelling retrospective reevaluating her legacy
- Abad's 1986 artist statement described feeling 'like an infidel intruding into somewhere sacred' while diving
Entities
Artists
- Pacita Abad
- Niki de Saint Phalle
- Lorraine O’Grady
- Faith Ringgold
Institutions
- Tina Kim Gallery
- Ayala Museum
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Manila
- Philippines