Pilar Albarracín

Arquitectura de esperanza (Hope Architecture), 2020

Candles and metal structure

Bailaré sobre tu tumba (I Will Dance on your Grave), 2014

Video, 7'04"

Diálogos imposibles 2 (Impossible dialogues 2 ), 2006

Silk thread embroidery on linen

Fuegos artificiales 1 (Fireworks 1), 2015

Silk embroideries

Fuegos artificiales 2 (Fireworks 2), 2015

Silk embroideries

Fuegos artificiales 3 (Fireworks 3), 2015

Silk embroideries

Fuegos artificiales 4 (Fireworks 4), 2015

Silk embroideries

Fuegos artificiales 5 (Fireworks 5), 2015

Silk embroideries

Fuegos artificiales 6 (Fireworks 6), 2015

Silk embroideries

Fuegos artificiales 9 (Fireworks 9), 2015

Silk embroideries

Cruces de camino I (Cross of the road I), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Cruces de camino II (Cross of the road II), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Cruces de camino III (Cross of the road III), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Cruces de camino IV (Cross of the road IV), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Cruces de camino V (Cross of the road V), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Cruces de camino VI (Cross of the road VI), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Cruces de camino VII (Cross of the road VII), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Cruces de camino VIII (Cross of the road VIII), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Cruces de camino IX (Cross of the road IX), 2020

Silk and cotton embroidery on black fabric

Luces y sombras I/XX (Lights and shadows I/XX), 2020

Colour photograph

Luces y sombras II/XX (Lights and shadows II/XX), 2020

Colour photograph

Luces y sombras III/XX (Lights and shadows III/XX), 2020

Colour photograph

Luces y sombras IV/XX (Lights and shadows IV/XX), 2020

Colour photograph

Luces y sombras VI/XX (Lights and shadows VI/XX), 2020

Colour photograph

Welcome I, 2023

Charcoal and acrylic paint on canvas

Welcome II, 2023

Charcoal and acrylic paint on canvas

Pilar Albarracín’s performances, sculptures, textiles, videos and photographs explore the traditions, rituals and symbols of popular and vernacular Andalusian culture. Her work is transgressive and creates spaces for feminist claims, raising awareness of power relations and the shortcomings, absences and prohibitions of a patriarchal society.

Pilar Albarracín’s tragi-comic work is a mixture of screams and laughter; it analyses the paradoxes in relationships, questioning the division of roles between couples and the foundations of sexual identity. From impossible dialogues (Diálogos impossibles) — to power struggles — Bailaré sobre tu tumba (I Will Dance on your Grave) — she touches on all the contradictory emotions reflected in the embroideries of Fuegos artificiales (Fireworks). Pilar Albarracín’s work also examines the Catholic rituals of her native country, in Cruces de camino (Cross of the road), pieces embroidered with the emblems of fraternities and fake cabalistic signs and sigils, and Luces y sombras (Lights and Shadows), reminiscent of the candles carried by penitents. A critical rereading of religious morality and patriarchal ideology, Arquitectura de esperanza (Hope Architecture) is based on the Holy Week ritual processions in which some sixty portadores, male members of fraternities, carry richly decorated floats, or pasos, with extremely heavy sculptures on them commemorating the Passion of Christ, to Seville Cathedral in an act of penance. Pilar Albarracín’s artwork is tinged with violence and solemnity. Through these painful ceremonies that tax people’s bodies, she questions respect for tradition and the weight of religion.