Ashmolean NOW: Pio Abad

Pio Abad (b. 1983, Manila, lives and works in London) began his art studies at the University of the Philippines before receiving a BA from Glasgow School of Art and an MA from the Royal Academy Schools, London. He has exhibited at Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow; Gasworks, London; Whitechapel Gallery, London; Mackintosh Museum, Glasgow; EVA International Biennial, Limerick; Kadist, Paris; e-flux, New York City; Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong; Para Site, Hong Kong; 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney; and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) Manila.

• 17 DIRECTOR’S FOREWORDXa Sturgis19 TRACING LOSS AND CONNECTING LINES THOUGHTS ON PIO ABAD’S DRAWINGSLena Fritsch33 TO THOSE SITTING IN DARKNESSPio Abad93 HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHTPIO ABAD AND BRINGING TO LIGHT DARK HISTORIESVera Mey100 NOTES101 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS101 IMAGE CREDITS

Pio Abad exhibition (and catalogue) has been shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize: "Nominated for his solo exhibition To Those Sitting in Darkness at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Abad’s work considers cultural loss and colonial histories, often reflecting on his upbringing in the Philippines. His exhibition includes drawing, etchings and sculptures which depict, juxtapose and transform artefacts from Oxford museums, highlighting their overlooked histories and drawing parallels with familiar household items. The jury commended the precision and elegance with which Abad combines research with new artistic work to ask questions of museums. They also remarked on both the sensitivity and clarity with which he brings history into the present." - Tate