Sadqain

My work revolves around the human body. The existential reality of human life is best exemplified by the relationship between the body and its surroundings. The environment around us, be it material or immaterial, determines this existential mode of being utilizing our perception of a particular situation and our reaction to it. Preconceived notions and feelings towards specific objects or states, time and movement, readdress our subjective reality in the said process. It is this reality that I attempt to probe through my practice. I also aim to explore various associations that my own body has with another body. This includes the connotations of affinity, revulsion, aggression and/or submission. Some of my works are a direct representation of such explorations. I also believe that we, as a society, have a collective memory. Therefore, our investigations of ourselves as members of this society accumulate in a collective commemoration that leads to the development of subconscious behaviour and attitudes related to our bodies, e.g. the idea of shame. Most of these emotions are also associated with the physical memory of our bodies. I experiment with different materials to transfer such emotions of exacerbation with which everybody can relate in one way or another. I believe my work empowers the viewer to deliberate on the inherent essence of the material and its materiality. I try to understand the essence and character of materials and employ them to enable a process of triggering the viewer's subjective realities and emotions, which, as a result, help me understand how subjectivity plays its part when the human body is concerned.As far as the methodology is concerned, most of my work reacts to specific visuals that I see and comprehend based on the conditionality discussed above. I often try to link my emotions and reactions to my experience and memory. However, sometimes I get interested in the materials, and I mould them according to the content and ideas. At other times, these ideas drive me towards certain materials because of their physical characteristics. I observe my behaviour and note the point at which they inspire or instigate me. The tactile quality of a particular material often stimulates the entire creative process for me. The selection is relative and intuitive. I collect things sometimes to be used later. I try to distance myself from work nearing completion only to come back with a more profound understanding of it. It allows me to imagine how a final product will be perceived and received from its real audience.

Biography Sadqain (b 1988) is an art practitioner, educator and designer based in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his BFA in graphic design from GC University, Faisalabad, in 2012 and then pursued another BFA from the National College of Arts, Lahore, from where he graduated summa cum laude in 2016.
He has consistently exhibited his works locally at various prestigious institutions, including Group shows at Taseer Art Gallery, Lahore in 2016; 554/B, Faisalabad in 2017; Karachi Public Art Festival, Karachi; Nomarde, Islamabad; Como Museum, Lahore in 2019; O Art Space, Lahore; Canvas Gallery, Karachi; Microcosm at Gandhara Art Gallery, Karachi and Art Soch, Lahore in 2021. Sadqain had his first solo exhibition at Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore, in 2018. He also participated in an online exhibition at O Art Space, Lahore.Beyond exhibiting extensively across Pakistan, he has taught at various established art education institutes Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Institute of Art and Culture, Lahore and his alma mater, the National College of Arts, Lahore. Sadqain has also worked with the Commissioner’s Office on Dharampura Underpass Public Art Project in Lahore.

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