IRIS Art Magazine, a universal 4 Are art schools killing creativity? project with global outreach takes Aisha Shahnawaz says art education has been turned into a common profession. you over a wonderful odyssey, with support of artists, sculptors, collec- tors, art gallery and museum pro- 6 Paintings of small worlds by Mohsen Keiany Miniature painter and art critic discusses painting in the subcontinent. fessionals, litterateurs and academ- ics on all five continents. 12 Alexandra’s soul out to conquer new horizons www.irisartmag.com She uses contemporary surrealism, abstraction and narratives to create art Chief Editor Khalid Rahman 18 Aurora’s search for ways to express herself She creates good art and has a good business sense too. Art Editor Saira Khalid 24 Biddy Hodgkinson interprets imagery of nature Contributing Editors Her advice to artists: ‘Be original; you learn most from your mistakes.’ Maryam Rasul INTERVIEW Jamil Khan Amna Jafri 27 Miles Baker’s clowns come out of nowhere His clowns are a depiction of humorous side of a painful reality. International Contacts Chicago: Tabinda Sahar (Chicago +16306992785) 31 Nikki Park wants you to follow your heart [email protected] She can put her heart and be in her dreams rather than live to work. 1492 Calendula Ct, IL 60446, USA 34 Soraya Sikander’s work: ‘an ongoing monologue’ Studying art in Britan and observing other cultures has opened her mind. UAE: Jamil Khan (Dubai +971504856098) [email protected] 38 ‘The Gamcha Project’ by Elise Vazelkis 105 Liyali Building, She got intrigued with the colourful headwear of the laborers working in Dubai. Khan Road, Sharjah, UAE. Islamabad: Maryam Rasul 40 Five female artists gets big response in Dubai (Islamabad +3155033333) The exhibition was admired by visitors from Pakistan, India and Emirates. [email protected] 542, F-10/2, 11th Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan. 42 Jamil Naqsh’s solo exhibition draws ardent admirers ‘The Painted Words’ was the title of his calligraphic show 44 ART: Piano or pressure cooker? Karen Sander muses To her, art is like a pressure cooker that brings out the best in you. 46 Humanitarian artist Arjumand Awan departs for ever Head Office For his contributions in the human rights, the artist was awarded gold medal IRIS PUBLICATIONS B-4 Jumani Arcade, Main University Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal 47 Hamid Alavi’s impressionistic urban landscapes Block 14, His palette-knife depict the changing moods of city life and, rarely, rural areas Karachi-73500, Pakistan. 50 Architectural landmark: Chajju da Chaubara 2 IRIS ART MAG— April -June 2014 In Mughal period, this structure was built by Chajju Bhagat, says Maria Asghar An IRIS for you. It’s FREE IRIS Art Magazine is a universal proj- ect with global outreach takes you over a wonderful odyssey, with support of artists, sculptors, collectors, art gallery and museum professionals, litterateurs and academics on all five continents. www.irisartmag.com REGISTER NOW! Every issue of IRIS Art Magazine delivered FREE in your inbox every month. IRIS Advertise thru IRIS With its offices in United States, UAE, Pakistan and more offices coming up in India, UK, Australia, France and other places, IRIS Art Magazine, is a truly universal publication. Its global outreach takes you over a wonderful odyssey, with support of artists, sculptors, collectors, art gallery and museum professionals, litterateurs and academics on all five continents. Advertise in its pdf edition or on its website www.irisartmag.com To get the latest tariff details, click on Advertise link. IRIS ART MAG— April - June 2014 3 Are art schools killing creativity? Art is a beautiful and a vaguely vast field. Every artist is an individual and holds the capacity to bring in new ideas. Unique in their own way, and having no comparison to the work of another artist, or the thousands of artists that spread worldwide. It kills me to say that we have turned art into a profession like any other. The individuality is compromised and so is the OPINION Aisha K Shahnawaz experience. ART and design is a form of expres- sion. A way of communication. a medi- alphabets. The only difference is that in young artist rise and shine from this um through which you deliver feelings, elementary schools children are very excercise. The process of metamorpho- events and happenings. It is the sce- young and naive and easily tamed. sis has taken place, the budding art stu- nario through the artist’s experience, An art student, on the other hand, has dents have blossomed into flower understanding and the eye that is exe- crossed adolescence. The young blood, blooms. And their work expresses their cuted on a canvas. It maybe a perfectly eager to explore how things work. talent and skill. Their art work is also drawn portrait or a high-resolution per- Thousands of emotions, feelings and put on sale. This is their opportunity to fectly timed photo, a sculpture, an arti- ideas gushing thru their mind like a rac- sell their art work, to supplement their cle or a poem. The list goes on, a never ing hi-octane Formula One car. A foot earning. ending list of medium through which on the accelerator, pressing it to race All respect goes to the art teacher and an artist can deliver the expressions. the engine, all they want is to release the young blood raging in the veins of There are people who are gifted the brake so they could rule the road. all the art students, and their hunger to with the skills of art. And there are That is how the mind of an art student achieve. Here comes my question: people who have interest to be in the is, and the stuff art teachers have to deal when the budding art students become field of art. Both the kinds go through with. sasoned artists, do they not become a a process of polishing and learning art The intense years of learning and threat to other artists and their own skill from an art institution. Where the practising art pass by in the wink of an teachers? teachers nurture the abilities of these eye and then comes the final year. The High-achieving students are often art students to make each of them a student has to appear for a thesis. This offered jobs in the same school once professional artist. time, it is time to show and prove what they have graduated, meaning that they A four-year degree (or diploma), a they have learnt during all these years are replacing a member of the existing two-year diploma or a year-long certifi- with the helop of their faculty to under- faculty, and not just in art institutes but cate course. It is a tensed journey of a stand things, their talent and skills, and also in professional field too. But hey, student to become an artist. how they can present their work. hold your thoughts there! I’m not being I would commend the teachers for The young artists already working a pessimist. No disrespects! But this is their effort of preaching art, and for with advdertising agencies and having how it is believed by many people, their patience. The job of a teacher in an art background present their display especially by those who have felt and an art school is not to be underrated. It reaonably well. experienced the competition, and who is like a kindergarten teacher who helps Others seek guidance from their went through the redundancy process, a student to hold a pencil and write teachers or mentore and a number and have been laid off. 4 IRIS ART MAG— April -June 2014 Art is a beautiful and a vaguely To everyone’s disappointment vast field. Every artist is an individ- comes the obligatory process of get- ual and holds the capacity to bring in ting thesis ideas approved by the fac- new ideas. Unique in their own way, ulty. Where you come up with a num- IRIS Art and having no comparison to the ber of ideas for your thesis and eventu- work of another artist, or the thou- ally one gets selected. The one that the sands of artists that spread world- teacher thinks is okay. Gallery wide. It kills me to say that we have Please define what okay is dear facul- turned art into a profession like any ty of art institutes. What students get in other. The individuality is compro- response by the teachers, convince me ENTER mised and so is the experience. that what you are thinking of is good IRIS Art Gallery Art schools, as of my experience, are enough. Convince you? Why? You are to show the artwork of no different from a regular school. just one individual who does or does There is a curriculum, the rules and not like their ideas. What about the tens your choice to the world obligations, and limitng boundaries. As and hundreds of individuals who might I have pointed out earlier, running an like the concept? If you argue more, BOOKING art school involves selfish and unselfish you are suspended from the thesis or per entry ways. I wouldn’t dare — not now — to face what is delivered to you as ‘disci- only $100 explain how commercialized it has plinary actions’. become, becaause that is not what I This is a shout out request to art insti- stand for today. tutes. Please do not put the barricades BONUS OFFER Today, I raise my voice for the free- of restrictions and rules. Honestly, you 3 entries dom of expressions. are killing creativity. The students do only $200 I do not agree that other than the go astray many times but there are dif- basic discipline obligations, there ferent ways to tackle situations and should be any rules.