In Plain Sight: Artworks aesthetically depict simple household items

Four emerging female painters showcase works portraying furniture, gadgets

ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of works by four emerging women artists that opened at Satrang gallery earlier this week looks so distinct that one is bound to feel the fresh air entering the gallery.

The distinct aspect of the show titled ‘In Plain Sight’,   are paintings that depict unassuming simple household items and electronic gadgets in an artistic way.

Zoha Khan’s work, featuring radios, cameras, televisions and other electronic items particularly stands out. It seems the artist has adopted an experimental approach pertaining to the design perspective and the colour palette.



“It’s an era of technological advancement. We invest in mechanical and digital objects to create comforts without which we can no longer live, so much so that we don’t own these commodities, they start owning us,” Zoha told The Express Tribune while explaining her work.

“Our dependence on them creates a relationship whose presence outweighs the social or human values. They no longer hold meaning as inanimate objects but ironically as beings,” she commented.

Zahra Asim’s work also depicts scenes of ordinary objects.

“My paintings are in the form of mini snapshots of ordinary scenes and crowded interiors of my old spaces. To create the feel of overcrowded space, I chose to work on a small scale and rendered the objects in intricate details by putting a lot of hard work,” she said.

Sidra Asim, who believes that art should not only be aesthetically pleasant but also therapeutic, said she creates a balance of strong emotions through practicing art.

“It is a response to people around me; their presence, behaviour and impressions that are transformed into painterly experiences. I observe the situation around me, fragments of reality, some madness and peculiarities inspire me,” she said.

Sanie Shoaib Bokhari is particularly passionate about architecture which is evident in her work.

She believes everything has a story to tell.

“I have just learnt to give meaning and voice to let these things speak. The visuals I choose to display on these pieces of furniture and architecture are softly and delicately treated in oils often depicting scenes that are bathed in dim light, lived-in fabrics and glimpses of bodies that are treading the fine line between absence and presence,” she said.

Bokhari believes in using actual objects such as doors, windows, shutters, cloth and combining them with paint or photograph to portray her perception of what a ‘real painting’ is.

Zahra Khan, the curator of the exhibition, told The Express Tribune that through depicting unassuming but recognisable items, which could be found in every household, these artists play with their audience’s sensibilities and memories.

“This exhibition strives to awaken the nostalgic observer,” she said.

“We are delighted to show the work of four female painters who have highlighted corners and aspects of everyday life which are often overlooked and ignored but are remarkably recognisable and familiar,” said Asma Khan, director of the gallery.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2015.