Haniyyah Khan
Fundamentals
My intention for this piece was to explore the evolution of craft; from the past to the present. I was curious to identify in the ways we have maintained similar avenues of artistic expression that were once explored in earlier times. I started identifying mundane items that presented these ideas. From a clay pot that was once stored by favorite kulfi (a type of South Asian ice cream) to the cotton hand-crinkled fabric and the little blocks of wood repurposed for future artistic endeavors. These mundane yet important materials were once basic resources that facilitated the most important aspects of life such as food, shelter, and clothing. However, the emphasis of mass production and ease we now face, we fail to appreciate the mundane importance they hold. These items encapsulate the epitome of human succession sustaining life for generations.
Artist practice
My current art practice has been guided by my immersion in the history of South Asia. From the evolution of the arts, both Fine Art and craft to colonization and the effects of partition-these are stories that have been erased. Using my understanding of contemporary artmaking practices, I aim to recognize the craftsmanship that has supported many nations across the globe.
Artist Bio
Haniyyah Khan is a Pakistani-Canadian BFA student studying at the University of Calgary. She is a multidisciplinary artist primarily working with textiles, drawing and printmaking as a way to explore the complexities of the South Asian diaspora. Her current work is informed by the histories of Fine Art, colonization and the erasure that has occurred of these communities. Intertwining these eastern themes, Haniyyah uses conventional artmaking practices to explore these subjects in a new light. In the future, she plans to create large-scale installation works.