We are thrilled to welcome you to the Museum for Art in Wood! Access to our exhibitions and permanent collection is free of charge to all visitors.

The Stains Are Forever

The Stains Are Forever

The Stains Are Forever
Title: The Stains Are Forever
Artist: Humaira Abid
Date: 2016
Materials: Pine wood, carved; red wood stain, epoxy putty, paint, wire, gouache on art board, framed in Plexiglas
Dimensions: 49 x 36 x 20
Read More
Artist Statement:

Abid’s use of symbols vacillates between personal afflictions and national crises. The pacifier, which has been a part of her artistic lexicon for much of her career, is a representation of the innocence of victims of disaster or violence. On its own, without a young mouth to grasp it, the pacifier serves as a haunting reminder of loss and unspeakable crimes committed against the most vulnerable among us.

On December 16, 2014, six armed militants—all foreign nationals—entered a public school in Peshawar, Pakistan, and opened fire, killing 141 people and injuring 114. Among the deaths were 132 children, aged between 8 and 18. Khaula Bibi, six years old and enjoying her very first day at school, was the sole female pupil to die in the attack.

The Peshawar school massacre is regarded among the most violent occurrences in Pakistani history. It provoked a national discussion on the government’s policy of harboring refugees from Afghanistan and catalyzed governmental reforms, including an effort to rehabilitate the country’s displaced populations, which in 2017 numbered nearly 2 million.