KARACHI – “Each moment in our lives has its own altering presence. It defines our interactions, and who we change into and what we shall become. No matter how subtle the differences may be, they are always there. When the impressions left by these moments take form, they help create a self awareness never before witnessed. So to me, my work starts on a very personal note,” says Moira Plair.
However, this fact is not reflective in the work. As far as mediums are concerned, there is not much restriction she places upon herself. Though her specialisation is in painting, digital media and sculpture also form a portion of her work that has gone through a number of different phases. Each phase has no obvious connection to the rest, but later, the links become apparent.
“The human body has always interested me, but it never seems to manifest in my work – whether anatomically, or in relation to illness or medication. When exploring my interests in reflective objects and domestic spaces, it beckons me to question the human mind as a domestic space, and in turn becomes my subject of study. I then become interested in dimensions in relation to the human brain,” she says.
The human brain is of great interest to her, not just due to its physical appearance or the pattern it dictates, but also because of a number of other things like the mind, the thoughts, the individual identities and so forth. Even when she is dealing with a single aspect of the body, the colour palette varies a great deal – from very bright, lively colours to darker, richer colours.
“As I deal with depiction of parts of the body, the medical profession could not be excluded since portrayal of the organs seems more appropriate through it. The medical perspective of the body has given me more possibilities. My work now orbits around the various aspects of the medical profession as it is a vital part of our lives,” she adds.
He work seeks to show this dependency on medication, not just due to illness, but also due to the compulsive behaviour that has developed in our age to constantly consume medication. She draws parallels between medication and candy, though they are very contrasting parts of our consumption. “Medication is based on chemical combinations, but the side effects are rarely known. This, too, is something I am tackling in my work,” she explains.
Photos courtesy Moira Plair
