As more artists come to the forefront in Pakistan, there are galleries opening up to support them. So the time was most definitely ripe for the recently held \u2018Artists in Residence\u2019 programme. International Steels Limited (ISL), in collaboration with Canvas Gallery, created a residency programme to bring together and nurture some of Pakistan\u2019s top contemporary sculptors.<\/p>\n
Sameera Raja of the Canvas Gallery says that \u201cthe residency creates the bond between the one who designs and the one who assembles. They work together and it opens a communication between two people who don\u2019t necessarily have access to each other\u2019s worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Artists Aamir Habib, Ehsan Memon, Fahim Rao, Mahbub Jokhio, Safdar Ali and Yasser Vayani were shortlisted to take up residence at the ISL factory along with all raw material, technology and human resource they required to bring their ideas to life. They were provided with human resource including craftsmen and engineers. The work was made on site with the concpet of it being public art for those who live and work on the site.<\/p>\n
The artists completed their works with the following titles: Aamir Habib\u2019s \u2018Spike\u2019; Fahim Rao\u2019s \u2018Turning Point\u2019 and \u2018Rising Sun\u2019; Ehsan Memon\u2019s \u2018Permanent Shadows I\u2019 and \u2018Permanent Shadows II\u2019; Safdar Ali\u2019s \u2018This is Leading Me Everywhere\u2019; Yasser Viyani\u2019s \u2018Steel Men Have Feelings Too\u2019; and Mahbub Jokhio\u2019s \u2018The Fallen Star\u2019.<\/p>\n
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An \u2018Artists in Residence\u2019 programme at a factory creates a bond between the one who designs and the one who assembles<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Memon\u2019s \u2018Permanent Shadows\u2019 in particular stood out: a cut-out of labourers in negative and positive metal sheet. After the exhibition, these workers will daily see their shadows, reminding them of how hard they work. The sculptor\u2019s execution is quite clever and possibly inspired by realism done during the Soviet rule. He used unpolished, coated steel for the workers to achieve a rusted form, and then created an attractive contrast by having the base of the piece polished and plated in zinc to be more durable. Memon encapsulated the heart and soul of the site in his piece.<\/p>\n
Jokhio\u2019s \u201cThe Fallen Star\u2019 at first glance looks like a meteorite. Inspired by the concept that we are all made of stardust and all metal comes from the stars, the artist sourced a boulder which he painted silver and recreated this beautiful outlandish piece.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\u2018Spike\u2019, Aamir Habib<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Ali\u2019s piece reminds one of the Gordian knots. Made from steel, the vision and the execution underscores Ali\u2019s capabilities as a sculptor. He used the factory\u2019s welders to construct this larger-than-life artwork and one is impressed by the strength that emanates from it.<\/p>\n
One of the most crucial parts of the process was mentorship. Sculptor Amin Gulgee, artists Asma Mundrawala and Munawar Ali Syed were selected to mentor the six finalists.<\/p>\n
The mentoring process included each artist sitting with the three mentors for one-on-one discussion as well as group discussions ranging from their ideas and material.<\/p>\n
\u201cI liked this initiative of the private sector getting involved and supporting artists in sculpture, as this is quite rare in Pakistan, and so I agreed to mentor this programme,\u201d says Gulgee, \u201cThere are not a lot of opportunities for young sculptors to have access to some large studio space and materials.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ISL plans to evolve the residency into a platform that enables artists to express themselves freely by providing them complete artistic freedom, along with support in the form of material, finance and human resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe created this platform to promote art by providing these budding sculptors with an enabling environment and complete freedom to bring their creative ideas to life,\u201d says Samir Chinoy of ISL.<\/p>\n
\u2018Artists in Residence\u2019 programme was held at the International Steels <\/em><\/p>\n