Samina Islam’s artwork has been influenced a lot because of having parents with different cultural backgrounds. “Having lived and brought up in The Netherlands and then settling in Pakistan gave a different dimension to my canvases,” says Islam. She believes she is one of those fortunate people who have experienced the West and the East and understood the differences from a positive perspective.
“My work is a reflection of what I think, dream and feel. What I paint is pure imagination bending towards surrealism,” she says.
She is able to tell so much through just one painting. “The use of colours comes naturally to me, and because I am a very positive thinker, it reflects in my work,” she adds. The group shows that Islam has been a part of include ‘Urban Voices IV’ at the Sheraton, Karachi; ‘Sadequain Awards’ at the Sadequain Art Gallery; the Vision Art Gallery; ‘Urban Voices V’ at the Sheraton; a takhti exhibition at the Sadequain Art Gallery; a two-person show at the Zenaini Art Gallery; a two-person show at the Shakil Ismail Art Gallery; the Indus Art Gallery; and the Poppy Seed Gallery.
Her solo shows were held at Het Klooster, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Het Lieve Heer Huisje, Oosterhout, The Netherlands; Pasteur Ziekenhuis, Oosterhout, The Netherlands; and the Citi Art Gallery, Karachi.
Photos courtesy Samina Islam
