Proof of Passing Time is a series of acrylic and ink paintings created during one of the most transformative seasons of my life— pregnancy, early motherhood, and the unraveling and rebuilding of my identity.
This collection was not made in long, uninterrupted studio days. It was completed slowly, in between short naps and diaper changes, in a few stolen minutes here and there. Like time capsules, each painting became a way to mark time and a reminder of all the life those times held.
Through my familiar language of linescapes, lace, leaves, and ladies, I found myself in constant reflection. The precious hours, days and weeks that passed are somehow captured in the lines and patterns in this collection.
Every stroke helped me stay grounded and present. It became my way of coping, processing and accepting how my life and time are no longer my own. These pieces are the witnesses to my farewell to my past self and my joyful welcome to a new identity and new season.
Some of these works look backward. Some are content in the present. Some sit in anticipation of what’s next. Together, this collection is simply that— proof of passing time.
notes by Kara Pangilinan-Tan
