About Samina Islam
Samina Islam is a mixed-media artist who was born to a Pakistani father and Dutch mother. Being exposed to two very different cultures, Islam has always been intrigued by people, traditions and surroundings. Islam moved back to Pakistan later in life where she started her endeavours in art. She got her Fine Art Diploma in 2002 with Distinction from Studio Art. She pursued her love for photography by attaining a Photography diploma and incorporating photography in her art practice. She incorporates needlework on top of her photographs, which are printed on canvas. Islam loves experimentation and is constantly working with various media to achieve the effect she is looking for.
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Education
2002
Fine Art Diploma with Distinction from Studio Art, Karachi, Pakistan
Residencies:
2018
MAWA Residency, Winnipeg, Canada
2017
Studio Kura, Fukuoka in Japan
2016
Textile instructional Artist Residency at Arquetopia Mexico
Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions:
2018
Singapore video screening, Schloss Homburg, Germany
‘Lines in the Sand | Contemporary Art from Pakistan’, Imago Mundi Project at Venice Biennale, Venice
2017
‘Silent voices’, Solo Show, Galleri Kronborg, Norway
‘Pickings Japan’, Schloss Homburg, Germany
‘Bloodlines’, ArtXchange Gallery, Seattle
‘Visual Mapping’, Studio Kura Gallery, Fukuoka, Japan
Karachi Biennale
‘Who killed Shumaila?’, Sanat Gallery, Karachi
‘The Thread Unraveled’, VM Gallery, Karachi
2016
‘In the footsteps of the Pilgrims’, UK
‘U-Turn’, Group Show, Sanat Gallery, Karachi
3 person show, Gandhara Gallery, Karachi
2015
Beyond Innocence, 2 person-show, Taseer gallery, Lahore
Individual Context, Rohtas Gallery, Islamabad
2014
Fusion Contemporary Art, Citi Art Gallery, Karachi
‘Dual Dynamic’, Two-Person Show, Khaas Gallery, Islamabad
2013
Grandeur Gallery, Karachi
Connections, Canvas Art Gallery, Karachi
Abandoned Europe, Alex Solodov Contemporary art, online
Awards:
– First Prize of Contemporary Masters of 2012
– Shortlisted for 4th International Emerging Artist Award 2016
Projects:
– Artwork used for book cover “Dhaka Dust” by Dilruba Ahmed
– Winner of the 2010 Katharine Bakeless Nason Prize for Poetry
– Artwork used for Album cover “Insomnia” by music artist Audien (Nate Rathbun), Grammy Nominee 2014
Published Articles:
2017
‘Exploring Home and Bloodlines’, Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times, Seattle, USA
‘The Tie that Binds’, Lisa Edge, Real Change Newspaper, Seattle, USA
‘On the murder trail’, Nusrat Khawaja, The News line magazine
‘Murder as Artform’, Nimra Khan, Dawn News
‘Jovita Alvares’, Art now Pakistan, online art magazine
Nageen Shaikh, Youlin magazine, online
‘Unsolved mystery: Unraveling a Crime Scene’, The Express Tribune, Karachi
Rabia S. Akhtar, Art now Pakistan, online art magazine
2016
The first 50, Publication by Sanat Gallery
Peerzada Salman, U-Turn opens at Sanat, Dawn news
U-Turn exhibition catalogue at Sanat Art gallery
2015
Faryal Ahsan, Art now Pakistan, online art magazine
2014
Ismail Umair, Youlin Magazine, Islamabad
‘Artworks depict diverse thoughts’, The Express Tribune Islamabad
‘Solitary Existence captured in Art’, Syeda Sherbano Kazim, Dawn News, Islamabad
‘Diverse merger of contemporary creative aura’, by Schezee Zaidi, The News, Islamabad
‘More than Materialism: Debunking Plastic promises’, Maryam Usman, The Express Tribune, Islamabad
‘Dual Dynamics – A Critical look at Lavish Lifestyles’, writer unknown, Dawn Magazine
Shireen Ikramullah, Nukta Art Magazine Volume 9 – 1, pg. 37
Nigaah Art Magazine Volume 1 – 37, pg. 3
2013
‘News of Cocooned Dreams and Drones’, Ahtesham Azhar, Daily Times
SHOP THE ARTIST
My artwork takes a critical view on social and cultural issues. While I use a variety of materials and processes in each project, my methodology is consistent. There may not always be material similarities between the different projects, they are nevertheless linked by recurring formal concerns and through the subject matter; and it is the subject matter of each body of work in turn which determines the materials and the forms of the work.
My art practice is very time-consuming as most of my pieces are stitched by hand. Needlework is a form of self-expression and meditation for me. Experimenting with different threads and textiles is part of the process.
