Of Dream-scapes. Insects and Human flesh.

Byline: AFSHAN SHAFI

Often, one thinks of artistic thought within the boundaries of a canvas, with a view to enjoy the piece in the privacy of an interior space. However, the urgency of aesthetic thought spills over into various forms, both inverse and surprisingly subterranean. The latter is true for the works of the three artists featured in this piece, who recently displayed their work at Beaconhouse National University's Mariam Dawood school of Visual Arts and Design thesis show. The projects of these artists caught my eye, mainly for their highly inventive use of mediums and the alterity of their vision. Rameesha Azeem's sculptural forms presented an intimidatingly raw spectacle to the viewer. Her practice aims to disrupt conventional attitudes to the depiction of the body through a perspective that can be termed dissident,and powerfully so. Rija Fatima's textile based work incorporates dream-imagery in an insightful and novel manner employing the technique of applique in good measure. Mahnoor's Irfan's jewellery delves into the oft-occluded world of insects and lifts them from lowly creatures to muses. Read on for more on their craft and vision.

Please describe the conceptual framework behind your project?

Rameesha Azeem: My work revolves around the idea of the existence of the body. It is harnessed by the idea of the transformation of the being, thus my divulgence into ambiguous visual forms. My work also focuses on the dismantling of the physicality of a body and its relation with death, hence, the visual oscillates from representation to a certain degree of abstraction. My project draws on a range of sources from the clinical to the morbid, juxtaposed with certain structures from the city, creating a contrast with the fragility of a personal body to the infrastructural bodies already existing in the public realm. The process and the transference of the idea leads to a peculiar style, that may be seductive/repulsive, male/female and organic/manmade. I am trying to challenge stereotypical perceptions of the body in elegant yet unconventional forms throughout my practice. I am keen to explore the blurring of the boundaries of sexuality and of ourselves as singular and stable beings, bridging the gap between the conscious and the unconscious mind. This inevitably leads to a grotesque yet engaging visual experience.

Rija Fatima: The main purpose of my project was to raise awareness about the concept of lucid dreaming by visually...

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