Category: Blog

Visual Journal complete (for now)

Since early on in Unit 1 I began the practice of keeping a journal. I would record emotions, places, and thoughts using any simple art tools available at that moment. It was a practice that evolved out of to two things: The question, “What is art?” or “What is art in the era of digimodernism?” arises out of a sense of uncertainty. For example, when I created art but hadn’t been to art school, it was outsider art? But outsider art is itself an insider term… While I understood eventually that ‘art’ had an ever evolving definition, or perhaps no …

MNWR exhibition at Hafez Gallery

One of the biggest art exhibitions that happens around Jeddah town is the 21,39 coordinated by the Saudi Art Council. It’s interesting in that it is scattered throughout the city. From the crumbling villas in old town all the way to the chicest mall. I guess the objective is, people run into it wherever they go. I went to the portion of 21, 39 which was being exhibited at Hafez Gallery, mainly because I was interested in the interactive piece set up by Fatima Al Banawi. But I ended up meeting artists and discovering some beautiful work as well. Fatima’s …

Low Residency overview

  The first day of the low residency was nerve wrecking, extremely exciting and at the end, very tiring. I think part of why I was tired, had to do with the fact that I had just travelled. Anyway, it started with meeting Steph for breakfast because we were in the same hotel. And we behaved like two excited kids. Then I left Ayla with the nanny and we walked together to the college. I loved how close Best Western Hotel was to the college. Those walks, that atmosphere, London in general — memories I’ll cherish forever. Meeting Jonathan was …

These streets will make you feel brand new…

These streets will make you feel brand new…

Ah that hasty but memorable trip to New York. Three days, does anyone go halfway across the world for three days? I had guests at home, Mohammad was in charge of Ayla, Manahil and Rayyan. And I, got to hang out with my best friend from highschool (Phd student at Cornell 😮 :o) andddd visit the MET!!!! But let’s start from the beginning. One not exhausting (once you have kids, every plane ride without them is a blessing) plane ride and four flights of stairs later we had a happy reunion. Followed by a lot of sushi eating, time square-ing, …

Critical Evaluation

Critical Evaluation

Returning to art after an emotionally gruelling period; at the start of this MA I felt a lot of uncertainty about the way forward. To alleviate this, I explored Jeddah in the face of its cultural obstructions for artists. Finding my place here was rather like water wearing away at a stone. Eventually I developed a love for the mosaic art abundant in the region and encountered projects that inspired me to create a meaningful project of my own. To execute this project I returned to the struggling city of Karachi. Based abroad, the collaborations that helped this project come …