as 2012 rolls in…

Before I start the first post of 2012: Thank you 2011 for leaving, you were truly a terrible year.

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Mizna Zulfiqar – MA (Hons) Visual Arts Degree Show 2012

It’s been a whole month and a jump into 2012 since my last blogpost. It’s partially to blame on Twitter, where I’m most often found, constantly tweeting about new shows, exhibitions, grants, photo shares and anything interesting on Pakistani and International Art. The s.a. Project facebook page has grown a lot too and I share many stories at that platform as well.

Today I ended up adding so many more Pakistani / South Asian artists and galleries to my twitter list that it made me think: Maybe I should compile a Pakistan-centric list of people/galleries/art institutions on twitter and post it as a permanent page addition to the blog. It can be updated regularly and people can email in to have their twitter-handles added in. I think  a resource like this will provide a lot more exposure and encouragement to the Pakistani art tweeple, who are in all honesty quite sluggish in their posts (says the woman who last blogged on Nov 29, 2011!). At the moment, while the world tweets about world affairs, art, fashion, food and everything you could imagine about, the Pakistani timeline is choked up with journalists and commentators. A lot of them have become good friends and acquaintances of mine, and although they’re doing a great job it becomes very monotonous. So, lets jump on to the bandwagon now shall we, even if we’re a few light years too late!

Another reason I was so delayed was my involvement in a GREAT international art project, with immense possibilities, that I unfortunately had to walk away from because of a few unprofessional members involved. Another case of middle men mismanagement - in any case I have fumed and foamed at the mouth and I’m over it. Moving on…

Whats next on the blog?

Graduating Class – MA (Hons.) Visual Arts, NCA

I’m currently working on the MA (Hons.) Visual Arts Degree Show 2012 post (the show will be wrapping up tomorrow, January 11, 2012) and it should be up in the next few days, or as soon as I receive all the tons of material I’ve requested from them! I’m very excited for the 9 artists that have graduated, many of who are old friends. Over the past few months I have worked closely with a few of them via email and Skype and I’m excited to see how their work has turned out. They did me the great honour of having me write something for their show catalogue and I also got a super cool shout out from them in the end. Made this monster misty-eyed for a moment!

However, I insisted (translate: argued) with them on not writing my title as Art Critic.  I don’t think I’m there yet…I’m more of a Has Too Many Opinions title kind of person. I did get an Art Journalist title from them and I know exactly which people at NCA would be scoffing at that.

Additionally, I will also be blogging a Guest Post reviewing a Pakistani group show in San Francisco. I’m excited that people across the globe want to share their own reviews and write-ups here.

So if you want to send in a story, photographs or anything you think I should know about, drop me a line at saira([at]sairaansari(dot)com (apparently this is how you avoid spam mail, fingers crossed!). I might blog it, and will most definitely tweet it!

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And DO check out the amazing shows Bani Abidi and Huma Mulji  put up in Baltic – UK, Project 88 – India and Grey Noise – Pakistan. Clicking on the photos will take you to the exhibition photo albums posted on Facebook.

Bani Abidi: Section Yellow at the Baltic, UK - image courtesy Green Cardamom. The show is also showing at Grey Noise, Pakistan till January 13, 2012.

Huma Mulji | Twilight at the Project 88 gallery, India

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Visit The s.a. Project facebook page for more regular updates

And definitely join in on my adventures on twitter – SairaAnsariPK