RIYADH: Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar's compelling works are characterized by vivid colors and surrealistic depictions of South Asian and Arab cultures, with a focus on confronting the challenges faced by women and girls in society.
24-year-old Anwar was born in Pakistan and moved to Saudi Arabia at the age of 8. He spent his formative years in the capital and studied at Riyadh's Menarat International School. He left the kingdom at 18 to attend university in Canada and has since returned.
The works of Zainab Anwar, a Pakistani artist living in Riyadh, have been shaped by living in Saudi Arabia, and some of the works focus on the challenges that women and girls face in society. (Supplied by Adam Studio)
I grew up here with people from different cultures. However, I didn't often see families from different cultures interacting with each other. At school, South Asians and Arabs interacted with each other, but I did not see any media representation of this.
“I felt like our communities outside of school were completely separated. This led me to create cross-cultural work. To illustrate the experiences of South Asians in the Middle East.”
Topthe lights
• Zainab Anwar, 24, was born in Pakistan and moved to Saudi Arabia when she was 8 years old.
• He spent his formative years in the capital, studying at Riyadh's Menarat International School.
• Bright and colorful backgrounds inspired by Pakistani truck art are Anwar's artistic signature.
Anwar started his artistic journey by portraying Pakistani women in various scenes.
I later started drawing women with dark skin and hair because I felt that these were the characteristics that brown women were shamed for. I saw girls at school bullying each other because of such beauty standards, both Arab and South Asian girls.
The works of Zainab Anwar, a Pakistani artist living in Riyadh, have been shaped by living in Saudi Arabia, and some of the works focus on the challenges that women and girls face in society. (Supplied by Adam Studio)
Art has been an outlet for her during times when she has dealt with mental health issues.
Later, I began to use surrealist art to depict the difficult feelings and experiences I had with depression and anxiety. Growing up with mental health stigma, it took me years to understand these feelings. And creating art on it helped me deal with those feelings.”
The works of Zainab Anwar, a Pakistani artist living in Riyadh, have been shaped by living in Saudi Arabia, and some of the works focus on the challenges that women and girls face in society. (Supplied by Adam Studio)
He added: I believe that art can help to clarify difficult issues and also give comfort to people who suffer from such social issues and mental illnesses.
I realized that society has a hard time dealing with experiences that all women and girls face, such as sexual harassment and unrealistic beauty standards.
The works of Zainab Anwar, a Pakistani artist based in Riyadh, have been shaped by living in Saudi Arabia, and some of the works focus on the challenges that women and girls face in society. (Supplied by Adam Studio)
The bright and colorful backgrounds are the signature of Henry Anwar. “The main source of inspiration for the colors I use in my paintings is Pakistani culture,” he said.
“The art form used by truck drivers in Pakistan is called truck art. Truck drivers decorate their trucks with contrasting and bright colors to draw attention to them. “I was attracted to these trucks from a young age and I believe this has led me to use bright colors in my work.”
The works of Zainab Anwar, a Pakistani artist based in Riyadh, have been shaped by living in Saudi Arabia, and some of the works focus on the challenges that women and girls face in society. (Supplied by Adam Studio)
Anwar's portfolio showcases the experimental use of various media including ink, pencil, photography and traditional arts such as embroidery. His current preference is to use acrylic paints for his works.
Although she portrays aspects of South Asian and Arab culture, Anwar says women tend to relate to her art no matter where they are from. They can understand many of the universal experiences of being a woman that I portray in my work. People also appreciate cross-cultural work and see it as a reflection of the society we live in.
Anwar says he tries to capture the full range of human experience in his work, including joy and sadness, which is important “for society, for both the artist and the viewer.”
