DUBAI.- Strong bold colors and sharp contrasts are the most striking facets of Faiza Shaikh’s collection of works on display at Capital Club on December 9, 2009. The London-based Pakistani artist, whose works have been featured in a number of prestigious shows including shows at the BAFTA Awards and the World Bank, already has a dedicated following in Dubai.
Her art has a philosophical aspect to it as she takes couplets or excerpts from scriptures and translates them onto canvas. Her signature work is recognized by the use of gold and silver leaf scripted with the philosophical message. Bright and bold colors and strokes combine with the words to create a wildly positive energy in her work. The result is that the canvas takes on the appearance of lustrous silk.
Faiza’s work comments on the state of politics, economics and society in the contemporary world, but she chooses not to present the way we are in a manner that questions this or states what we see around us everyday. Her art is concerned with issues of urban existence, racial discrimination and disparities between the rich and poor, but her paintings present a quest for perfection which takes impetus from this world without depicting its context.
"My outlook on life is totally and completely optimistic. My paintings are a celebration of life. I choose to live in my own world, where I define my own rules [and] create immunity for myself. I exist in nirvana, where everything is perfect. It is in this state that I paint, so I am detached. I am devoted and I am obsessive when I paint and I hope that my paintings impart the same optimism and uplifting experience for the viewer," says Faiza of her approach to her art.
In a critical piece about Faiza’s work, published in November 2008 in conjunction with a show at Art n Soul Gallery in Mumbai, art critic Gopika Nath wrote: “The world of contemporary art has sought to address these issues by presenting a mirror of communal violence and disharmony. Faiza does not concern herself with the images of this mirror. She is not interested in recounting experiences that feed off themselves and their negative emotions, perpetuating indignation or outrage. Her voice simply says: look into the mirror of your being, know yourself to realize that your battles are unnecessary. For when each religion speaks the same truth, outlines the same vision and everything leads to the same reality, all of this is just a tamasha (tantrum). It is about clamouring to be noticed; arising from perceived insecurities and a misconception of ourselves.”
Faiza’s works can be viewed at the Capital Club Dubai on December 9, 2009 till December 11, 2009.
Faiza Shaikh
Faiza Shaikh was introduced to art at a very early age and her passion grew, first at at Fielden Park Art School in Manchester and after that, at South Trafford College for textile designing and finally at St Martins college in London. With this knowledge of technique and history of art, Faiza decided to make her own mark in the art world. She has participated in a number of acclaimed group shows and has had numerous solo shows around the world too.
