During her prolific 32-year journey, Pacita Abad (1946-2004) explored more than 60 countries, enriching her artistic approach through diverse experiences. This extensive travel exposed her to various techniques, materials, and connections, which deeply influenced her work. Abad often remarked, “For me, traveling is my art school.”
In the spring of 1998, Abad traveled to Yemen, a country then recovering from the Yemeni Civil War that had occurred four years earlier. Reflecting on her engagement with the political realities of her native Philippines, Abad considered the enduring value of cultural traditions even amidst turmoil.
As noted by Tina Kim Gallery, rather than aligning with a recognizable lineage of artists within conventional galleries, Abad drew inspiration from the anonymous artisans in craft, textiles, and decorative arts outside the traditional Western frameworks. This perspective is highlighted in the gallery’s third solo exhibition of her work, titled Door to Life.
The exhibition showcases works Abad created in later years, influenced by Yemen’s vibrant architectural and decorative styles. Particularly drawn to doors, described by the gallery as “portals,” Abad amassed a substantial archive of photographs and sketches of doorways, expressing, “Everyday a new idea, everyday a new door.”
Abad’s works, crafted in her distinct trapunto style, are vertical, rectangular pieces that integrate layers of meaning, memories, and materials. Her painted and appliquéd geometric patterns reflect the decorative features of traditional Yemeni architecture, like tessellations and floral designs.
The artist’s previously unseen qamariya paintings capture the essence of the semicircular glass windows typical of Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. These works, named after the Arabic term for “moon-like,” mirror the windows’ crescent shape and ability to play with light.
Door to Life is open for viewing at Tina Kim Gallery in New York until June 20. Additional works can be explored in a publication that accompanied Abad’s first Door to Life exhibition in 1999, which you can browse online.
