Studio Project 10: March 2008

Pio Abad: Here Lies Love
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Market Gallery presents the work of Pio Abad in his first solo show in the city since graduating from Glasgow School of Art in 2007. Abad continues to examine the function and dysfunction of excess both, as a visual quality, and its historical role as a signal of imminent collapse. Offering the grotesque as a creative strategy, his work mines the irrevocable links between ornament and excrement, decadence and delusion and pomp and parody.

The title, Here Lies Love is derived from the words Imelda Marcos proposed for her gravestone; an appropriate final delusion for the camp priestess of excess. Denial, decadence and decay permeate the sculptures that have inflicted themselves on the gallery floor. Abad explores the idea of the false artefact, presenting relics from a seemingly familiar past that straddle history and theatricality, tragedy and farce. Hewn from powdered wigs, satin ribbons and pearls, they exist between the court sculptures of the ancient regime and undead roadkill. As revolting as they are ridiculous, they are vestiges of failed histories clumsily attempting to resuscitate themselves into spectacular and absurd parodies for the present.

for more information visit: www.axisweb.org/artist/pioabad