Though the bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States of America are strained, the artists of both the countries are working together to form a strategic partnership between the countries using art as a tool to strengthen people to people contact.
Four young artists, two each from both countries opened their stunning collaborative contemporary art work exhibition on Monday, titled ‘Equality’ at the Tehzeeb Gallery and Café.
The four artists, Sundus Rana, Sakina Akber from Pakistan and Chloe Boden and Marian Barber from USA, have combined their dexterity, creativity, ideas, concept and skills to develop joint art pieces by working on each other’s art works. The collaborative project took place between March 2011 and March 2012.
Working on a theme of ‘East meets West’, the artists have worked mutually on a series of drawings by mailing each other across the continents. The resulting drawings utilise figurative elements in vague and suggestive narratives. The majority of the drawings include images of young girls, in both western and Muslim attire, juxtaposed against monsters, animals, and other creatures.
The works seem to speak to a universal search for identity amongst challenging and confusing circumstances, be they cultural, political, religious, or personal.
In one of drawings, a girl sits cross legged, thoughtfully, ye calmly examining her wounded body while seemingly unaware of the three beastly half rabbit, half-human hybrids behind her. In another drawing, a manicured hand is collaged onto the drawing and on it, like a henna tattoo, is a stitched-together creature. Contrasting this, with her back to the monster, is a young girl, whose naked body is being ‘engulfed’ by traditional henna patterns swirling around her.
In one of puppet like creature, Sundus Rana has created a doll with traditional bridal dress while the drain is fixed at her back. “This shows that everything untimely goes in drain,” Rana said. Altogether, in these wonderful and inventive drawings, the artists bring disparate images together, to create thought-provoking and suggestive work. “It all happened when I was nominated for a scholarship through the United States Education Foundation- Pakistan (USEFP) in 2008 to study at the Clarion University, Pennsylvania. I had an idea to manufacture artistic work mutually that could not only help to encourage dialogue between the audience of the two countries but also build a symbolic bridge which enables creation of an exciting interactive art works,” Sundus Rana, the brainchild behind the idea, told Pakistan Today.
Rana said the four artists had drawn from the space within themselves, images and notions of what they believe ‘Equality’ is all about.
Rana, a graduate of the National College of Arts, said, “This is not merely an art exhibition but an effort from the artists of both the countries to broaden their mental horizons and to sensitise the people of both the countries.”
She added that it was an attempt to become accustomed to others’ thoughts. “The world is comprised of different races, religions, and diverse cultures and yet we have come together comfortably and sensitively to share our thoughts, art and ideas,” the vibrant artist added. Using ‘mix media on paper’, ‘mix media on vasli, and ‘mix media’, the artists had an opportunity to create two of their own pieces and then to work on others art pieces as well adding to the uniqueness of the concept.
One can see the differences in ideas, mediums, and even brush strokes. The idea is to keep a very open mind as viewers look into others cultural differences and have respect for them. In the process the artists also tried to raise the question of how people of the two countries are dealing with the same issues but in a different perspective and manner.
The exhibition will run at the Tehzeb Gallery and Café till April 19.
