Being a part of a number of solo and group shows, talks and biennales, this well-versed and a shining star of the art scene of Pakistan, Masuma Halai Khwaja shares her thoughts with You!
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Based in Karachi, Masuma Halai Khwaja is one of the well-known figures in the art world. She graduated in 1991 with a distinction from NCA. Her evolving trajectory involves embroidery and fabrics with which she beautifully weaves narratives of cultures, society and other abandoned issues in her oeuvre that leaves a thoughtful impression. Her deep observation over the daily political, social, cultural and traditional changes strongly affects her work and she captured every phase of her personal life onto the canvas as well. Khwaja has worked as an instructor at numerous art institutions like National College of Arts, Lahore, University of Karachi and Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi.
Her works titled 'Charlie Aur Hum' won the excellence award in 2016 at the 9th Fiber art Biennale in Shenzhen, China, and other works like 'Freedom at Last' was in the Dafen Art Biennale, 'After All it was Just Trade' 2017 at Nord Art, 'So New Stories Are Formed' 2018 at Fiber Art Biennale, Beijing and IPAF 2019 and 'Of Terracotta Silk Cotton and Wool' was exhibited at the First Art Embroidery Biennale- Chouzhou.
Being a part of a number of solo and group shows, talks and biennales, this well-versed and a shining star of the art scene of Pakistan, Masuma Halai Khwaja shares her thoughts with You!
You! Tell us about the influences in your work?
Masuma Halai Khwaja: While studying art history at NCA, I was very inspired with Tizano because he had red drapery in his work and I wanted to bring that in my work too. Also, my life at NCA and personal experiences truly represent my work. You will find traces of suppression which I observed among my friends from Tando Adam at NCA. You will also observe the experiences of a woman while bringing a child in to this world which I gathered at the time of my delivery.
The images in my work are always textile based because in school, I learned stitching and was very close to the skill because of my grandmother. She taught us how to design clothes when we were children and gave us the environment to learn the basics. This is the reason why I have always been associated with art made up of cloth. Mrs Hashmi, who was my thesis in charge at NCA, led me experience with clothes and asked me to practice with fabrics. With time I started embroidery on my canvas. I would go to Sunday Bazaar and flee market to buy all sorts of cloth and one day, I decided to start something with cutting the cloths on Mrs Hashmi's suggestion. My mom saw the work, and asked me to show it to people after which I started getting involved. Furthermore, I researched and started making informed pieces of work and daily news really affected it. I had concerns that how the resources are being used in our country and then the Chinese coming into Balochistan was actually a good thing and was reflected in my work. I had participated in four biennales in China and my work was highly appreciated there.
You! Tell us about your contribution in the field of art along with your current works.
MHK: I have made a lot of work that is now 3D in nature. In Pakistan and Bangladesh I am sharing narratives and some of them are considered as informed pieces of art. I also did a project 'Reel ON HAI' with KB19 and then realised that there is no publication that could record the art of Karachi. So, I made a coffee table book with 'I am Karachi'.
Right now, Bangladeshis has proposed a series of podcasts and I am also working on other projects with them. There is a firm in Amsterdam named Mediamatic where I have suggested a project but it has yet to come to fruition. Also, currently I am teaching which I love as a job as its highly rewarding. I like giving guidance to the artists.
You! Why do you think there is a need to place art in public places?
MHK: We had very nice sculptures like the one near Shaheed-e-Millat road which is not there anymore. Also, Amin Gulgee's sculpture was vandalised in the middle of the night. So, there is a specific group which would not appreciate art and sculptures in the city or country but the nation would love it. However, people not always vandalise art. Art really changes a mindset and one feels proud of having it in the country.
People wouldn't even understand the purpose of a dustbin if not made in a creative manner. For instance, the dolphin-shaped dustbins kept on the sea view. I would say even if they capture pictures sitting inside a dolphin dustbin so they have at least appreciated it. When people start going to the art showcases, others would also go. One of my friends who live abroad saw the pictures of the building at Dinshaw Road on social media and she told me that she would come to Pakistan and will take her kids there as it looks amazing. So, people do notice and appreciate.
You! An art gallery is placed in public. How is this informative for a layman?
MHK: I agree if you know the history and background than it would hold a different meaning for you. But art really helps open mind and reflects on the same things.
I really liked IPAF where Nazimabad and Lyari kids were encouraged to come and they asked questions about the art pieces. DHA should have an open call and ask a good artist to make nice sculptures.
You! Which medium is your favourite?
MHK: Oil paint.
You! How do you see Karachi and Lahore's art scene?
MHK: Karachi is a big city and I love its art scene. Everyone has a running pocket and there might be groups of every gallery but they are connected to each other as well and there is no hierarchy. In Lahore, there is a pyramidical structure and strong grouping so there is a bit of a tension there. There are many differences, pros and cons of being an artist in any metropolitan city.
You! What about the art writers?
MHK: They should be neutral and give their opinion without any peer pressure and that I find missing. Today, only the gallery is promoting or demoting an artist. If we had really good art critics and they would say exactly what they feel so the artist would still have a chance to grow even if the gallery has demoted his work by not taking it up. This is very important.
You! Your strength as an artist and weakness?
MHK: My weakness is I over work and my strength is I am very good at painting and conceptualising.
You! Any message that you would like to send across?
MHK: Everybody should do something creative and you are an artist even when you get the message across and just not when you know to draw or paint. Also, everyone should do a creative activity that would give you a lot of peace like stitching and embroidery.
You! Art for you in one word?
MHK: Something that makes you move forward.
