SADIA SHIRAZI

136 MB / Exhibition Without Objects shifts attention away from the singular art object and focuses instead on artistic discourse and practice. Responding to the attention international headlines have focused on artists from this country as well as the form and subject matter of artwork that often comes to represent the region, this exhibition creates an alternative platform for artists to reflect upon the relationship between their artistic practices and issues of representation, production, and display at both a local and global level.

The exhibition is an unfolding of an initial conversation that began with a letter of invite from the curator to the artist. In lieu of showcasing art objects, the artists were asked to create digital narratives that played with the format of the ubiquitous power point that is often used to show an artist’s work to critics, curators, and colleagues alike. In addition, each artist has paired their power point with an “event” that further interrogates or explicates the themes introduced by their respective slide show. These events range from sound installation and artist led events to casual conversation, and function as catalysts— transforming the gallery from a more passive space of display into an activated space of display and discourse. The events also include a collectively curated film program and a public program. The exhibition’s participating artists are Ayesha Jatoi, Mehreen Murtaza, Rabbya Naseer & Hurmat Ul Ayn, and Saira Sheikh.

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

EVENTS
Events occur daily throughout the run of the exhibition.

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
Film screenings timing is subject to change due to electricity issues.

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.

PUBLIC PROGRAM
Exhibition premise as well as curatorial and artistic collaboration discussed.

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.