Humaira Abid

Sep 1

Exhibition Fight Like A Girl

September 1 - October 29, 2022

Opening Reception: “First Thursday,” September 1, 6-8pm
Artist talk: “Saturday After”, October 8 at noon

Additional Reception: “First Thursday”, October 6, 6-8pm

Greg Kucera Gallery is pleased to announce its second exhibition of new work by Humaira Abid. The show’s title, Fight Like A Girl, lifted from protest signs used in women’s marches around the world, refers to Abid’s interest in and concern with the way women are oppressed in many parts of contemporary societies. The exhibition explores the struggles women face and the strength revealed by those struggles.

“It means to be as strong as a woman, and it’s not about bodily strength. Women are seen as weak but we have been actually fighting since our early years of life. We fight to be someone we are told we can’t be. Since our first steps, we have been told what not to do and not to be, that we can’t, that it is not for us, and it continues through all our lives.

Fight like a girl, because we have to prove we are good in what we do. Fight like a girl, because we have to scream to be heard. Fight like a girl, because we have to do our and our male colleague’s job and still be paid less. Fight like a girl, because every time we step out of our house, we are not safe. Actually, even inside our house we may not be safe.”

— Humaira Abid

The Pakistan-born artist’s sculptures and installations are an inventive combination of carved wood and painting. She creates beautifully detailed works that explore politics, religion, taboo, and societal stereotypes.

Three works at the center of the exhibition come from Abid’s THIS WORLD IS BEAUTIFUL, AND DANGEROUS, TOO series. Each sculpture is a carved pine child’s swing suspended over carved objects such as lizards, cacti, and toy paper boats. On each swing seat is a painting of a child swinging happily in a fantastical setting. The works convey the wonderful ability of children to play and enjoy their environment, while acknowledging the perils and uncertainties that are always lurking in the background.

Other works include framed portraits of women, intricately carved pine protest signs that look uncannily like worn and weathered cardboard, and works from the artist’s TEMPTING EYES series depicting Muslim women staring back at us from rear view mirrors.