Bacongo III
- Artist: Pacita Abad
- Date: 1986
- Medium: Acrylic paint, silkscreen, plastic buttons, mirrored glass, wool, ribbons and thread on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 2630 x 1495 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the 'Bacongo III' by Pacita Abad. Created in 1986, it’s a large quilted canvas that blends acrylic paint, silkscreen, plastic buttons, mirrored glass, wool, ribbons and thread. The piece is part of the Bacongo series, named after the Bantu peoples of Central Africa. Abad drew inspiration from bifwebe face masks used by the Songye and Luba to channel spirits. She flattened the rounded mask shapes and stitched them onto canvas, stuffing and sewing to give a sculptural feel. Then she overlaid abstract patterns, bright colors and reflective elements, turning the surface into a vibrant, mask‑like face. The work reflects Abad’s travels across Asia, Africa and Latin America, and her interest in blending traditional forms with contemporary abstraction. It’s a striking example of how the artist used quilting techniques to make a two‑dimensional surface into a three‑dimensional, moving experience.
See it in person
Bacongo III is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
