Farazeh Syed

Stemming from my contextual interest in art historical representation of the 'Feminine', my work is a reinterpretation of stereo typical aesthetic and cultural notions about ‘woman’, the female body and beauty. Woman has historically been ‘imagined’, objectified, and stereo typed in art as passive and submissive. She is present but always as a visual/symbolic metaphor for sensuality and eroticism; a powerless, available object; and the narrative, the vision is always that of the dominant male. Such imagery serves not only to represent but reinforce the ideology of power and dominance in the gender context.
My work, therefore, is an attempt at raising questions about identity, gender roles and power dynamics.
It is very much subjective—a self portrait, based on personal experiences and perception of self as a woman, constantly negotiating and recreating my identity and space in personal and social life.
I intend to create autonomous female spectatorship independent of patriarchal values, where women identify and relate with the subject, and, are intellectually inspired to reinterpret their reality and identity.
Using paint and mix media, I use both semi-translucent and opaque layering to create the illusion of depth and a ri...

Education:

2014-2015 Master in Visual Arts (Hons.), National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, Pakistan.

2004-2005 Master in School Administration, Beacon House National University (BNU), Lahore, Pakistan (Gold Medal).

1997 Continuing Education Courses: Figure Drawing/Oil Painting, Parsons School Of Design, New York.

1997 Figure Painting, Art Students League, New York.

1996-2011 Drawing/Painting Apprentice, Iqbal Hussain.

1994-1995 Diploma in Print Making, Gandhara Art School, Islamabad, Pakistan.

1993 Bachelors, English Literature, Lahore Grammar College, Lahore, Pakistan (Passed with Honors).

1991- 1992 Foundation Courses, Fine Arts, National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan.

Solo Exhibition:

2018 'The Skin We are In', O Art Space, Lahore, Pakistan.
2017 ‘Re-imagining the Imagined’, Sanat Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
2012 ‘Sar-e-Rah’, Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan.
2012 ‘Portraits of Punjab’, Unicorn Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
2010 ‘Faces of Life’, Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan.
1997 Young Professionals Association of Pakistan, New York.

Major Group Exhibitions:

2018 'Four Women Four Stories', Curated by Studio R.M. Naeem, Sanat Gallery, Karachi.
2017 ‘Love Letters’, (Catalogue), Curated by Mohsin Shafi, Sanat Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
2017 ‘The Imago Mundi Project for Pakistan’; Imago Mundi Pavilion, Venice Biennale, and, Luciano Benetton ‘Imago Mundi’ Collection.
2016 ‘Recent Works by Farazeh Syed, Buland Iqbal, and Alee Saad’, Chawkandi Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
2016 ‘MA (Hons.) Visual Art Degree Show 2015’, Art Scene Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
2015 ‘MA (Hons.) Visual Art Degree Show’, (Catalogue), Zahoor al Akhlaque Gallery, National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan.
2014 ‘Figure in Movement, Abrar Ahmed, Ashok Bhowmick, Farazeh Syed and Noori Berdi’, Unicorn Art Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan.
2014 ‘28th Annual Exhibitio...