Miles to go before we sleep

Pentimenti is pleased to present Miles to go before we sleep, a solo exhibition of intricately detailed wood carvings and paintings by artist Humaira Abid. Adapted from Robert Frost’s iconic line, “And miles to go before I sleep,” the exhibition’s title shifts the singular “I” to the collective “we,” transforming a personal journey into a shared one. In a world marked by inequality, displacement, war, political division, and ongoing struggles for human rights, Abid’s work reflects on the challenges we face together and reminds us that the work of repair remains unfinished. At the core of Abid’s practice is an exploration of women’s lives and the tension between the visible and invisible expectations placed upon them: to nurture, adapt, sustain continuity, and heal, often while navigating restrictions imposed by society, culture, or religion. Parenting is another recurring theme, reflecting the profound challenges of raising and protecting children in a rapidly changing world. Migration is equally central to Abid’s work. It can be an act of hope and love, a journey undertaken in search of safety, opportunity, and a better future. Yet migration can also bring separation, uncertainty, danger, and loss. Through these interconnected themes, Abid examines the resilience required to navigate displacement, responsibility, and the search for belonging. Throughout the exhibition, familiar objects, including clocks, signs, thread, toys, and shoes become metaphors for time, memory, and lived experience. Everyday acts of knitting, reading, mending, parenting, and protesting intersect with broader realities of migration and displacement, connecting intimate personal experiences to larger social and political forces. Miles to go before we sleep ultimately reflects on perseverance, collective responsibility, and the unfinished work of repair. It asks us to consider what we owe to one another, and what remains to be done. There are still miles to go before we sleep.