American Pakistani artist exhibits works

Islamabad : The Tanzara Art Gallery on Thursday organised an exhibition titled 'Being and Becoming' by Zaam Arif, an American-Pakistani contemporary artist residing and working in Houston, Texas, aiming to showcasing the hidden talent of forthcoming artist.

Noshi Qadir of the Tanzara Gallery said the works in Zaam's first solo exhibition titled "Being and Becoming" at the gallery were far more than a series of portraits. Each work was a deep exploration of the ontological existence of the human by the societal systems. Zaam confronts it with a penetrating interpretation of human nature, transforming it into a visceral reality.

The 21 oil and canvas paintings on display, explore much of the same ground. Zaam expressed his understanding of the contemporary human condition along with insights garnered from his study of classical literature and psychology through his paintings that were so charged with an emotional resonance that they leave an indelible mark on viewers, he said.

He explores the harsher truths and inner conflicts that plague us all, in this day and age, using visual contrast in all his pieces, whether through colour, lack thereof, or the medium itself, to express. Zaam is currently pursuing his BFA in Design but has been taught and been an apprentice to his artist father, for several years. His work has been published across many platforms.

In 2021, his work was selected to be exhibited in the Malamegi Lab Award and was awarded the Malamegi Lab Research Grant in Italy. The exhibition will continue till Feb 4.