Everyday Materials

Just published!

Edited by Elaine Ng and H. G. Masters, essays by David Elliott, Josephine V. Roque, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Russell Storer.

Documenting the trajectory and development of Filipino abstract artist Bernardo Pacquing’s work from the 1980s to present day, this is the first publication of its kind to explore his early life, creative practice, and the evolution of his distinctive and celebrated visual language. Named after Pacquing’s fascination with accessible, inexpensive, and mass-produced materials, this book is designed by the acclaimed Fraser Muggeridge studio in London and illustrated with a range of color and monochrome photographs of his studio and artworks. 

It presents a narrative that uncovers a personal side of the artist within the context of the times, one that enriches our understanding of his four-decade career. From early works that were marked by gestural abstraction to more recent land art and his complex use of found materials, Pacquing’s varying thematic shifts are here comprehensively charted and documented. Alongside the rich visuals, the monograph also includes texts that investigate the value of artist friendship, support, and reciprocal influence within the framework of the creative process. Bernardo Pacquing came of age during a period of significant transformation in the Philippines’ visual art scene—including early experimentations with interactivity and participation—and through a number of in-depth essays by David Elliott, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Josephine V. Roque, and Russell Storer, Everyday Materials offers a nuanced reflection on Pacquing’s creative process, his formative influences, and his ongoing contributions to the field of abstract art.

Publication year: 2024
160 pp / 295 X 245 mm
150 color images
Paperback
ISBN: 978-988-70593-0-1
Published by ArtAsiaPacific, distributed by NUS Press