Curatorial Notes

Death bears itself in this exhibition undecorated, not ponderous or portentous, but just as a condition already present in all matter. Ambie Abaño continues her inquiry into the temporality of life, observing how existence unfolds in time, forward and irreversible. These questions are presented in material realities encountered through wood, paper, and the labor of printmaking. The exhibition leads viewers through a sequence that mirrors the arc of human life. Entry is marked by a swarm of butterflies, which guides the eye toward three chronological images printed on handmade paper, depicting women’s bodies at different stages. A woodcut matrix of a dead body lies at the center. Unlike the printed images, the wood remains heavy, unmoving, and irrevocable. It functions as both origin and end: the site from which images emerge and the reminder of what remains when life ceases.

–Carla Gamalinda

About the Artist

Ambie’s work is characterized by her exceptional skill in woodcut printmaking. While she remains deeply connected to traditional methods, her curiosity and creativity have driven her to experiment beyond conventional boundaries. Her explorative spirit has led to the creation of remarkable sculptural and installation pieces, which blend the intricate details of printmaking with the spatial dynamics of three-dimensional art forms.

She earned her MFA from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts where she serves as Associate Professor. She was president of the Philippine Association of Printmakers from 2007-2012. She has conducted numerous workshops in printmaking for art organizations, and cultural and academic institutions all over the Philippines since 2001.

Her practice as a printmaker has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. Some of the notable honors she has received include:

• 3rd Prize in the 3rd ASEAN Graphic Arts Competition in 2020

• Winning Piece in Hida Takayama Contemporary Woodblock-Prints Triennale in 2017

• Grand Prize in the Philip Morris Philippine Art Awards in 2006

• Grand Prize in the Painting Category of the Art Association of the Philippines Open Art Competition in 1987

She had artist residencies in Paris through the Alliance Francaise de Manille Philippine Artist Residency Program (2011), New York through the Asian Cultural Council (2012), Kuala Lumpur, Fukuoka and Bandung for Barehands Artist Residencies (2015-2018), and attended art camps in Kerala, India (2011) and Krabi, Thailand (2012).