Vasl Art Collective: Creativity in isolation
The residency helps artists look at their own work through the eyes of their peers.
ISLAMABAD:
Breaking bread with like-minded people while enjoying the beautiful landscape of Tomair Village is an opportunity many would desire. Vasl Art Collective in association with Rohtas Art Gallery launched its art residency in Islamabad four weeks ago, making it possible for six artists from Pakistan, Iran, South Africa and Turkey to live together and exchange ideas and critique each other’s work. The goal of the residency is to help artists find new perspective in their work. After its launch, The Express Tribune ventured out to Tomair Village, situated an hour outside Islamabad, to meet with the artists and witness their work first hand.
The idyllic manor of the Rohtas Rawan exudes peace, tranquility and segregation from society that provides an opportunity for the artists to experience a new culture whilst also giving them the breathing space that they do not get in the society. Hailing not only from different backgrounds and cultures, the artists are also come from very different art backgrounds and have their own signature styles of working. The residency is helping them look at their own work through the eyes of their peers. “I love that we are isolated because I am getting a chance to digest everything,” says Turkish artist Basak Akcakaya, as she uses henna as a medium to adorn her canvas.
“I am getting to enjoy the landscape while still being in the studio,” says Naqsh Raj from Quetta as she works on her still life using ashes and other rejected disposal waste from around the manor. “I like making junk precious and it links into my ideology of multiple realities,” she continues.
Katayoun Karami from Iran soaks up the environment around her and plans on converting it into a video installation with a carpet display. “I’ve had this idea for three years and now it will finally become a reality,” Karami said.
Muzzamil Ruheel from Pakistan drew his concept from the notion of breaking bread in a communal space with people from different cultures. “I have been cooking for so many days now that I want to do my installation using food,” explains Ruheel. Planning on phonetically spelling out the word “EAT” in Arabic and Turkish text with food, the artist wants to create the illusion of belonging to different cultures and understanding them. “My work will be interactive and this experience is adding on to my concept.”
Khanyise Mabongwa from South Africa sports a dark mane of beautiful braided hair and in her soothing deep voice explains her concept. “People have been staring at me ever since I came here,” unravels Mabongwa, “my installation includes my body and therefore I am giving the viewers a chance to stare at me and even touch Me.” Working with texts from Faiz, the artist said, “I am an African born in 1984, the same year Faiz passed away, and I want to honor his work because he wrote a beautiful poem about Africa.”
As the last week of the residency begins, the pressure starts taking a toll between getting their pieces ready for the Open House at Rohtas Rawan on April 16, 2011 and entertaining the guests visiting the living quarters to see the artists at work. Hassan Mujtaba from Lahore works on the idea of aging with space and uses pebbles as his medium of expression. “This place has a lot of positive energy which makes it wonderful to work in,” concludes Hassan.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2011.
Breaking bread with like-minded people while enjoying the beautiful landscape of Tomair Village is an opportunity many would desire. Vasl Art Collective in association with Rohtas Art Gallery launched its art residency in Islamabad four weeks ago, making it possible for six artists from Pakistan, Iran, South Africa and Turkey to live together and exchange ideas and critique each other’s work. The goal of the residency is to help artists find new perspective in their work. After its launch, The Express Tribune ventured out to Tomair Village, situated an hour outside Islamabad, to meet with the artists and witness their work first hand.
The idyllic manor of the Rohtas Rawan exudes peace, tranquility and segregation from society that provides an opportunity for the artists to experience a new culture whilst also giving them the breathing space that they do not get in the society. Hailing not only from different backgrounds and cultures, the artists are also come from very different art backgrounds and have their own signature styles of working. The residency is helping them look at their own work through the eyes of their peers. “I love that we are isolated because I am getting a chance to digest everything,” says Turkish artist Basak Akcakaya, as she uses henna as a medium to adorn her canvas.
“I am getting to enjoy the landscape while still being in the studio,” says Naqsh Raj from Quetta as she works on her still life using ashes and other rejected disposal waste from around the manor. “I like making junk precious and it links into my ideology of multiple realities,” she continues.
Katayoun Karami from Iran soaks up the environment around her and plans on converting it into a video installation with a carpet display. “I’ve had this idea for three years and now it will finally become a reality,” Karami said.
Muzzamil Ruheel from Pakistan drew his concept from the notion of breaking bread in a communal space with people from different cultures. “I have been cooking for so many days now that I want to do my installation using food,” explains Ruheel. Planning on phonetically spelling out the word “EAT” in Arabic and Turkish text with food, the artist wants to create the illusion of belonging to different cultures and understanding them. “My work will be interactive and this experience is adding on to my concept.”
Khanyise Mabongwa from South Africa sports a dark mane of beautiful braided hair and in her soothing deep voice explains her concept. “People have been staring at me ever since I came here,” unravels Mabongwa, “my installation includes my body and therefore I am giving the viewers a chance to stare at me and even touch Me.” Working with texts from Faiz, the artist said, “I am an African born in 1984, the same year Faiz passed away, and I want to honor his work because he wrote a beautiful poem about Africa.”
As the last week of the residency begins, the pressure starts taking a toll between getting their pieces ready for the Open House at Rohtas Rawan on April 16, 2011 and entertaining the guests visiting the living quarters to see the artists at work. Hassan Mujtaba from Lahore works on the idea of aging with space and uses pebbles as his medium of expression. “This place has a lot of positive energy which makes it wonderful to work in,” concludes Hassan.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2011.