Details:
① Artwork:
The Numb Artist
In this painting, a young man sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to his chest, takes up almost the entirety of the canvas. Alone in a darkened room, he gazes blankly at something out of frame—or perhaps, nothing at all.
The artist finds significance in the human figure and the emotions it evokes, and this series of paintings focuses on the importance of capturing its essence in its most basic form. He also explores the struggle behind pursuing the creative act here, with each work holding a memory of his pursuits in music, literature, poetry and photography.
Zaam Arif’s work reflects an overture rich with philosophical and literary influences that has evolved into a deep and provocative exploration of the human experience.
Specs:
③ Artist:
Zaam Arif’s work reflects an overture rich with philosophical and literary influences that has evolved into a deep and provocative exploration of the human experience. Inquiries on existentialism get translated into powerful visuals thanks to Arif’s seamless craft and the synergy he creates between his painted characters and their environments. Arif’s work mirrors his curiosity about humanity's complicated journey of discovery and, ultimately, the understanding of existence. Although ever-changing, his practice constantly resonates with our yearning for answers.
Zaam Arif was born in 1999 in Karachi, Pakistan, and lives in Houston, TX.
He has mounted solo exhibitions at Sarai Gallery in London, UK (2023); Scott Miller Projects in Birmingham, AL (2022); and Tanzara Gallery in Islamabad, PK (2022).
Arif has also participated in notable group exhibitions, including Beloved Community at Black Wall Street Gallery in New York City, NY (2022); NOMAD at Full Circle Gallery in Karachi, Pakistan (2021); and Polychromatic at Blue Gallery in New York City, NY (2021).
The artist’s work has been featured in ArtNow Pakistan (2022), Youlin Magazine (2022), and THE NEW YORKER (2021), among other publications.
Arif was also awarded the Malamegi Lab Research Grant in Italy (2021).
