Anam Feerasta

Artist Statement

I think of my paintings as deconstructed self-portraits. They explore feelings of fragmentation that are rooted in my ongoing struggle to build an independent identity, whilst balancing familial and cultural expectations. Painted primarily in acrylic and oil paints, my work also examines the perpetual nature of the journey from fragmentation to alignment within oneself, which is synonymous with the journey to reclaim identity.My work combines figuration, abstraction, and symbolism to create layered, textural compositions that are inspired by collage, my Pakistani upbringing, and childhood memories of home. It depicts contorted, vulnerable, disengaged and often incomplete bodies in abstract spaces. These bodies allude to fragmented identities, and to the multiplicity of an identity resulting from gender-biased responsibilities and cultural expectations. While my work seeks to challenge these longstanding expectations, the rich colours, imagery, and symbolism embedded in the work celebrate and empower women who share in a similar struggle to reclaim identity.