Arjumand’s planes leave a trail of ambivalence about being Pakistani
ISLAMABAD: Multi-media artist Sana Arjumand is a leading figure in the current generation of Pakistani artists. The work of this generation of contemporary artists serves as a unique window into range of culturally relevant subject matters – personal identity, gender politics, religion, spirituality and existentialism.
In a rapidly evolving new society, Arjumand’s work expresses her dual response towards her Pakistani identity: her pride and belief in her nationality and cultural heritage paired with a desire to embrace progression of the modern world; and her frustration with those whose actions and ideas reflect a lack of vision. She utilizes the distinct and immediately recognizable icons of Pakistan’s cultural heritage – the green and white of the Pakistani flag; the star and crescent moon – while also toying with street-level cultural icons, such as bearded men in traditional garb (100,000 Years of Growing Beard, 2009), American luxury automobiles (Bureau Car, 2010), and the airplane (Mairaj 1 & 2, 2010).
Arjumand works in layers, literally and metaphorically, sometimes over a period of several years. Her work transcends the canvas as she transforms it through multimedia, utilizing video and large-scale installation. Her airplane series on canvas, for example, became a 20ft painted wooden airplane for installation, which in turn became the model for the digital prints on canvas, Mairaj 1 & 2. Playfulness, humor and whimsy are the common denominators to which Arjumand returns, again and again, as she reacts to the increasingly volatile environment which surrounds her. Arjumand explained: “I express my ideas through the light of wit, which makes situations less dense. Our constant involvement in discussing and living in the state of chaos makes us forget the naturally embedded sense of humor in us. Utilizing a sense of humor in art through icons, colors and imagery, I confess, reflect or react more comfortably …”
Sana Arjumand was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1982. She received a BFA from the National College of Arts, Lahore in 2005.
