Stocked up with painting supplies for the lockdown!
Karachi, Pakistan based miniature painter Rabia Farooqui finds creative and emotional community in regular virtual studio visits with peers as she paints in her home studio during confinement. This post is part of a series of interviews with former Artists in Residence at Green Olive Arts asking how this season of social distancing and postponed cultural mobility has impacted them.
Green Olive Arts AiR Interview with Artist Name
Rabia, how have you had to flex or pivot your art practice in this unprecedented season of home confinement? What are you currently working on in your studio at home?
One of the biggest advantages of being a visual artist whose preferred medium is painting is that nothing hinders studio practice, not even home confinement. I was stocked up on materials and surfaces way before lock down was imposed and luckily had no trouble producing work.
Currently I am working on a new body of work for two upcoming exhibitions happening at the end of this year. The narratives in my compositions are heavily influenced by surrounding circumstances, so I’m sure the concept of isolation is going to have a strong presence in my work.
Family Planning by Rabia Farooqui, 2020
Last Seen In Uniform by Rabia Farooqui, 2020
What does creative community and/or social sanity look like for you right now? How are you staying connected and grounded?
I have a couple of friends who are also artists and every once a week we give each other a virtual tour of our studios and the work being produced. This process exposes feelings of vulnerability, which at a time like this is the closest one can get to experiencing an intimate exchange of emotions. Thus, its safe to say that I rely heavily on these virtual meetings online to validate the days I feel any form of disconnect.
Squeaky Clean by Rabia Farooqui, 2020
My art has always had an online presence. Many are now exploring various mediums to express themselves online; not only is this very motivating but its also nice to see the creative community come together through their collective effort.
What insights about creativity in a time of crisis can you share with other artists? What have you been learning?
I learned that an overload of information/news of the ongoing pandemic was affecting my creativity and my practice a considerable amount. Thus, I had to distance myself from all news related outlets since it was triggering feelings of anxiety and fear.
Play Fight by Rabia Farooqui, 2020
See more of Rabia’s work on Instagram @rabiafarooqui.4
Click here to see other Covid19 AiR Interviews
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