Today Google’s search engine homepage celebrates Filipina feminist artist and activist Pacita Abad. On July 31, 1984, she was the first woman to be awarded the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TYOM) accolade.
Abad was a modern painter from Basco, Philippines and her work brought awareness to social justice issues like immigration, sex work, hunger and colorism.
Google’s homepage on July 31, 2020
Abad attended the University of the Philippines, Diliman before she moved to the United States to study painting at the Corcoran School of Art, in Washington D.C. and the Art Students League in New York City. After finishing art school, she travelled the globe, and painted everywhere she went. In each place she visited, she borrowed and collected techniques from local art communities; as a result, her art is bold, all-encompassing, provocative, collaborative and captivating. She not only painted, but also did embroidery, batik, an Indonesian technique using wax, dye and cloth, textile work, that featured the bright yellows of Islamic Filipinx culture.
“Dancing in the Dark” by Pacita Abad. Photo: Pacita Abad Art Estate
Pacita Abad was radical because she rejected the idea that painting was elitist. She drew inspiration directly from the indigenous materials and techniques she saw during her travels which led to the innovation of trapunto paintings, or her rendition of Italian quilting techniques. To some, the trapunto paintings may look like oil paintings, but if the viewer draws closer, the pieces are actually padded, sewn, embellished with sequins, beads, shells, mirrors, and textiles. Abad was experimental with her paintings, her style was constantly changing and being inspired by the new environment around her.
Abad’s final project can be seen today in Singapore. She completed it just before she died of lung cancer in 2004.
“I’m going to die anyway, can’t I just finish the bridge?”
Philippine artist Pacita Abad transformed Singapore’s Alkaff Bridge into a colourful beacon and icon. Now her life and work is being celebrated on her remote island home #Bataneshttps://t.co/cKJum5TGlZ pic.twitter.com/ROxjRxnHQW
— Jack Board (@JackBoardCNA) November 4, 2018
