Saima Rasheed (Associate Member)
A Dancer
Giclée print of gouache on wasli paper from the 'Creative Women' series |
My practice has its roots in the Indo-Persian tradition of miniature painting, but like many of my contemporaries, I have rejected traditional subjects for modern, topical ones. My work explores human rights in a society where one's existence is defined by gender, taboos, traditions, religion and culture. It unravels individual or collective memories and experiences in visual form, with an empathetic outlook that hopefully stimulates recognition for a collective effort for change.
I am currently exhibiting giclée prints of two series of work: ‘Creative Women’ In this series, I have depicted and celebrated women on the cusp of creative moments, moments when unconscious impulses replace cultural expectations. Something, she does purely for her self, not for the sake of duty or social pressure. Images of women absorbed in their favorite activity like singing, knitting, drawing, and reading. Although these moments are captured on the traditional medium of wasli (paper) they stand in stark contrast to the portrayal of women who stand like trimmed objects as if arranged for decoration in traditional works. The work is a result of the direct and intimate observation of my friends and family thus a sort of dialogue is created. ‘Walking to School I, II, III’ This is a group of paintings that depict the remembered experience of my daily journey to Art School, past favourite sights and buildings, and into heaving streets laden with energy, noise colour, smells and obstacles for a lone woman. From a discriminatory public transport system and an indifference to unaccompanied women, not to mention bomb blasts, going to art school in Lahore can be quite a challenge. Recent exhibitions: ‘Recollection : Memory & Time' - group exhibition at the Portico Library/Gallery in Manchester, July & August 2017 Joint exhibition with Darren Bartholomew at Wall in the Barn in Hadfield as part of Derbyshire Open Arts, May 2017. Early in 2017 I was nominated for the prestigious Jameel Prize and in 2016 a selection of my work was exhibited at the Colombo Biennale. I also make porcelain and polymer jewellery which is on sale at The Green Man Gallery. Contact me via the gallery: hello@thegreenmangallery.com |
