The violence of loneliness

The violence of loneliness was created in 1997 as part of the Abstract Emotions series which were shown in the National Museum, Jakarta, 1998 and is illustrated in the Abstract Emotions catalogue (c.f. Pacita Abad, Abstract Emotions, Pacita Abad, 1998, p. 11, illustrated.). This was when Abad was living in Jakarta, where she was 'constantly experimenting with local textiles'. (Pacita Abad, Abstract Emotions, Pacita Abad, 1998, p. 2). This work was done on canvas, collaged and stitched and uses some of her trapunto painting techniques, developed earlier in her career, to create the textured design. The vibrant splash of colours is complimented by rhythmic circular motifs gifting the work an effervescent quality. These circular motifs would be further developed in her later body of work.