SADIA SHIRAZI

136 MB / EXHIBITION WITHOUT OBJECTS (EwO) shifts attention away from the singular art object and focuses instead on artistic practice and discourse. The exhibition unfolds from a letter of invitation from the curator to the artist. In lieu of showcasing art objects, the artists are asked to create visual essays that play with the ubiquitous format of the PowerPoint that is often used to show an artist’s work to critics, curators, and colleagues alike. Artists are also asked to pair their PowerPoint with a live “event” that further interrogates or explicates the themes introduced by their respective slide show. These events have ranged from performance and sound installation to casual conversation, and function as catalysts that transform the gallery from a more passive space of display into an activated space of display and discourse. This iteration of the exhibition included the artists Ayesha Jatoi, Mehreen Murtaza, Rabbya Naseer & Hurmat Ul Ayn, and Saira Sheikh.

Exhibition Programs:

Post-Script
Sunday, 3 June 2012, at 630pm
Curator moderated discussion with Artists will follow upon the heels of Saira Sheikh’s artist led discursive event.

Cross Connection
Monday, 28 May 2012, at 5pm
Rabbya Naseer & Hurmat Ul Ain
Skype conversation, 180 minutes.
This event occurs during the opening of the exhibition and will allow visitors to participate in an ongoing skype discussion between the two artists, which is their primary tool of communication.

7 Minutes of Occlusion
Monday-Sunday, 28 May—3 June 2012, plays daily thrice on the hour, daily.
Mehreen Murtaza and AT (Azeem Tahir), sound installation, 7 minutes.
Murtaza worked with musician AT (Azeem Tahir), who created an autonomous sound track as a response to her slide show. It may or may not find itself finally matching up with her projected images.

Event
Wednesday, 30 May 2012, at 6pm
Ayesha Jatoi, conversation, 60 minutes 36 seconds.
Conversation with the artist over libations and snacks.

Deinstall
Sunday, 3 June 2012, at 5pm
Saira Sheikh, event, 90 minutes.
The artist has asked that deinstallation occur during her event. As it occurs, she will talk to the audience about art objects, perceptions of art, and the elephant in the room.

Film Program
Friday, 1 June 2012, 10am-8pm
Films selected by the group are screened throughout the day in the gallery. Please refer to schedule in gallery for timings and titles.

Projections:

Mehreen Murtaza
This Film Should Be Played Loud, 2012
Powerpoint slide show, 122 slides, silent; 11 minutes 24 seconds, looped

Saira Sheikh
The moral rights of the Artist, 2012
Powerpoint slide show, 31 slides, silent; 2 minutes 3 seconds, looped

Rabbya Naseer and Hurmat Ul Ain
Reenactment, 2012
Powerpoint slide show, 28 slides, silent; 7 minutes, looped

Ayesha Jatoi
Images, 2012
Powerpoint slide show, 12 slides, silent; 1 minute, looped

Press:
"Enter the artists' mind: Of (revealing) art as process" by Sonia Malik for The Express Tribune (May 30, 2012)