Vania Mazhar
“Last visit to Karachi Beach is how I imagine peace would feel. Standing in an unfamiliar city, watching the waves crash into one another in the late evening hours on the shore. The sea puts you at ease and there is nothing to worry about. No war, no disruption, and nothing that can threaten you, as the sand under your feet grounds you.
This painting was made while I was reflecting on a war between Pakistan and India during my time at the Vasl Residency in Karachi, Pakistan. War displaces you. Regardless of what side you are on, the damage runs deeper than anticipated and lasts for a very long time. It has been a year since the occurrence, but this painting grounds me, as if nothing will go wrong as I watch my friends splash around on the beach on a summer evening in my favorite city.”
Vania Mazhar (b. 2001) is a painter based in Lahore, Pakistan. Trained as a traditional painter at the National College of Arts, she continues to expand her practice of drawing and painting into digital mediums, including projections, video, and sculpture. She has exhibited at COMO Museum, Canvas Gallery, and other prominent museums and galleries in Pakistan. She currently works as a drawing instructor at the National College of Arts while practicing art.
“Last visit to Karachi Beach“, oil on book hardcover (18.8×12.5cm)