Marjorie Abela’s work is an act of unearthing the unknown. Marjorie investigates the emotional and physical language of the human body to explore vulnerability, memory and the transformative power of emotional resilience. Her work often refers to a collective female form, representing the concept of femininity and the fragility of women’s rights. Autonomy, sensuality and power dynamics are explored through quiet defiance, translating experiences into actuality with an unapologetic, unwavering presence.

Working across sculpture, drawing and textile processes, she moves freely between mediums, forging a sense of fluidity within the work. Marjorie begins by working from life, allowing an unspoken exchange between herself and the sitter. Rather than depicting a likeness, a shared emotional state is captured. Embodied and intuitive processes allow the work to unfold in unexpected ways, as a history is embedded into the surface through fragmentation and repair. Each touch becomes a record of tenderness as the work takes on a life of its own that extends past the sitter and the artist. Marjorie creates multiples, which she distorts, traces or splits open to unveil vital truths, as new facets of her identity are uncovered.