Nails and sewing threads have been transformed into colorful works of art by a lady visual artist in Antipolo City, who, during her younger days, was driven into juggling several jobs just to help her family earn a living.

Racquel Akisha Tomogbong-Pagulayan, or “Ake,” a proud mother to her children, has used several pools of sewing thread and nails as mediums to create works of art.

Ake’s framed works, dubbed as ‘Habi Ni Ake’, which include images of humans, nature, surroundings and other objects designed as abstract figures, are on display until Sept. 30, at the “ARTablado,” an art gallery at Robinsons Antipolo in Antipolo City.

Pagulayan told Manila Bulletin that her skills as a visual artist has been honed by her experiences in life, starting when she was still a helper at a garment firm outside the province, until she became an entrepreneur in her adult years, earning a living from catering business, to frame shop business, to painting and making beaded accessories and ornamental crafts.

“it was my knowledge and long exposure in the sewing industry that helped me in creating art pieces out of sewing threads and nails in my works,” Pagulayan said.

At the ARTablado gallery located on the Upper Ground Floor, North Wing of Robinsons Antipolo, Pagulayan’s works include images of swimming koi fishes; farm scenery; colorful birds, London Bridge, and several objects in abstract forms and shapes, among others, that are inside a wooden frame. All of the thread arts were created by Pagulayan herself during the pandemic years.

Pagulayan recalled that during her teenage years, she started being self-supportive and even helped her family financiallyt. During her high school days, when she learned of her father’s decision not to send her to college, Ake persevered until she saw herself supplementing her studies out of her own pocket.

She is also into helping others through her advocacies and livelihood projects for single mothers and other less fortunate sectors in her community in Antipolo City and elsewhere.

Robinsons Land Corporation’s corporate public relations manager Cookie Marquez said the arts exhibit at Robinsons Antipolo has been providing free venue for the artists as a way of helping them in showcasing their works of art to the public and at the same time promoting the arts and craftsmanship of the local talents, especially artists based in Rizal Province.