Babae at Bayan (Women and Country) (from 'Cards of life - Women's series') 1993

Brenda Fajardo’s 'Cards of Life – Women’s Series' works combine figures from the Philippines’ Spanish and American colonial periods, blending references to folk and vernacular art of the Philippines with intimate storytelling and sociohistorical commentary. These images are bordered by characteristic figures from the tarot, through which the artist offers an alternative ‘reading’ of Filipino history. Portraying varied figures across class and ethnic groupings, Fajardo’s focus on women’s lives under colonial rule emphasises resilience and adaptability, reflecting her own long-term association with an emerging feminist movement. Fajardo was a highly influential artist who is regarded as a pioneer in decolonising Filipino art history.