Zauha Rehman Qamar
Am I Conscious
Am i Conscious is a ceramic art piece. It is a human heart abstracted into the shape of a vase. It is a conversion of the human heart into a physical functional object. The intention behind this piece was to explore how our body subconsciously takes care of us. As we have no control over this, we may not appreciate it as much as we should. It is a physical representation of how the heart is the base of what keeps us alive and growing into who we are.
Inspiration
As a child of immigrant parents, I grew up wondering where I supposed fit in within the western world. I struggled to place my identity either with the culture I grew up with, or the culture I was surrounded by. I now identify as both Pakistani and Canadian, but it took a while to come to this conclusion. I use art as a form of self expression which means most of my works deal with the concerns of identity and the struggle of finding yourself. My main mediums include ceramic, acrylic and graphite. Through these tools I explore mental health and how it feels to be stuck in a place where you do not belong.
Biography
Zauha Rehman Qamar is a Pakistani visual artist based in Calgary, Canada. She mainly uses graphite, sculpture, and a variety of paint mediums. As Qamar identifies with Canada and Pakistan, she sees her life as an abstraction. Through her work, Qamar breaks down the complexities of human emotion by depicting how beings are abstract with their fluidity and rigidity while exploring how nature connects to humans. Along with this, she unpacks how important identity is. Qamar is currently an undergraduate student studying for her BFA at the University Of Calgary. As of now, she is president and co-founder of an emerging artist club called the Fine Arts Society. She promotes on-campus artistic opportunities while creating a space for artistic thinking and community for students.