La Isla
ManiObras 1989
Isabel De Obaldía painted most of the oils in the “ManiObras” (MANeuvers) series in 1989, during a tumultuous period in Panamanian history. The titles all relate to the difficult circumstances and the human rights violations that characterized the end of the eighties.
“Word of Mouth” refers to the stifled freedom of the press; “Operation” makes a point about a diseased country; “Exiled” evokes one’s roots in the homeland; and the large eyes that pear out over “Troubled Waters” remind us of the constant sense of danger and surveillance at that time.
the artist with Troubled Waters and Word of Mouth
De Obaldía showed courage in deciding to exhibit these paintings to the public at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in November of 1989, shortly before the U.S. invasion of Panama. The title “ManiObras” makes reference to the “MAN” (Manuel Antonio Noriega), as well as to political and military maneuvers, but above all, to the desperate situation in Panama.
- Monica Kupfer, Panama, An invasion in 4 times, Museum of Contemporary art of Panama, 2019
