Artist Tehreem Jafri, who graduated from NCA, Rawalpindi campus in 2009, emerged on the capital’s art scene with her provocative and complex work. Heavy on dualism, her exhibition, “Magazine,” at Khaas Gallery seeks to negotiate the “self,” the personal “I,” with the violence of Pakistani society. Her work can, and should, be characterized as extremely relevant.
“Magazine” evinces Jafri’s penchant for working with duality: “Magazine” as a commonplace vehicle for disseminating information, as well as an object for storing cartridges and ammunition- punning violence. In fact, the representations of “commonplace” items juxtaposed with guns, belts, armour and yellow bands emphasising barriers are a commentary on the way in which we, as a collective, have become acclimatised to ubiquitous militancy and insurgency.
Jafri’s newspaper paper-mache set of bowls and plates, Satisfying Hunger, cast violence as a trite phenomenon. The construction represented simple objects that become loaded when contrasted with the disconcerting news-clippings that form them.
“Her work is very bold and relevant,” said Alia Bilgrami, assistant curator at Khaas Gallery, “She’s playing with how violence seeped into our daily lives to the point where you don’t even notice it.”
“It’s unsettling how easy it has been for us to adjust to violence and barriers. This is what I’m interested in commenting on,” said Jafri, while explaining her prolific use of yellow bands as, “Barriers to our identity and all the memories we carry with us.”
On The Brew, a chinaware, metal and wood installation in the image of an armoured teapot, Jafri said, “I wanted to demonstrate how violence has become so common that we talk about it over tea.”
Jafri couldn’t have picked a better time to showcase her art. After being bombarded with news of Monday’s events, guests were able to relate. “We all have to adjust to our current political scenario. I think her work reflects the way in which our identities are altered and changes, for better or worse,” said Sana Malalai Isa. Jafri’s work will remain on display till Wednesday, May 11.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2011.
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