A tête-à-tête with Islamabad-based artist Sana Dar.
Tell us a little about your art process and how you create this dynamic interplay of colours and patterns?
My process is spontaneous and intuitive, balanced with a deep understanding of how tone and form flow in harmony on a surface. By tuning out, focusing on feelings and not thinking about any specific subject, I am able to create abstract forms through colour. Instinct dictates how shapes and patterns are layered; it also decides when a piece is finished. Logic and language follow, processing the visual and completing the story.
How much do outside influences impact your art practice? How has 2020 been for you?
External influences such as nature, the weather, my environment, and experiences with others helps shape my practice all the time. While 2020 has been tumultuous in many ways, it’s has been my most productive year. I was able to evolve my work conceptually, and understand myself better —as an artist, and as an individual.
Being at home for so long, I was able to detach myself from the outside world. Knowing I had little control over it, I was able to focus on things in my immediate vicinity and make art a priority.
What do you think has changed in this Covid-19 world in the way artists share their work with their audiences?
With everything moving online, artists have had to become consistent about sharing their work, rather than the platform they choose. There is constant activity on all social media with open calls, weekly challenges, groups and hashtags. It’s about staying in the loop. Keeping up with gallery pages and seeing how they are adapting, and deciding on what type of avenue is best suited for you as an artist.
What have you found most exciting and most challenging about this online interaction?
To be chosen for one of Saatchi Gallery’s weekly online challenges was very exciting since it showcased my work to a huge international audience and I was selected from a worldwide pool of artists. The most challenging was learning about social media advertising analytics and algorithms.
The interface seems cumbersome, the settings need to be updated several times to see what kind of impact your numbers are creating. It was tough for me to break into that part of the gambit without breaking the bank.
In your view, are there any artists or galleries right now who have set the benchmark for showcasing work in a non-physical domain?
Institutions like the Natural History Museum in London, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam are online with the help of Google street view. The Vatican Museum virtual tours are really impressive since they have their own interface that guides you through. Saatchi Gallery set the benchmark by promoting artists for free, across all online platforms, for over five months. With new themes every week, artists from all over the world, working in all mediums were encouraged to participate. It kept the community connected and fostered motivation during a time that otherwise felt futile.
Have you made any work plans for 2021?
Indeed. I am regularly creating art, evolving and growing my portfolio. I have a group exhibition in January, at the Hamail Gallery in Lahore. There are also some self-imposed deadlines where I have plans to organise and edit my media inventory. Having also studied TV & Film, my mind is constantly working to learn from real life imagery. Observing colour palettes in nature, the way light moves and changes, how patterns in organic shapes and forms grow in perfect proportion.
If there was one thing you could do differently, what would it be?
To be honest, there is little I’d like to change. Having worked from home for many years now, the time during lockdown worked out really well for my practice. I am grateful I was able to adapt quickly and keep my work going.
Exhibitions in 2020
- ‘Unorthodox’ – Online Exhibit – @eexhibitions
- ‘Worldwide Juried Online Show’ – Anton Art Center, USA – Director’s Pick
https://www.theartcenter.org/single-post/2020/04/17/Worldwide-Online-Art-Exhibit - ‘Prints for Pandemic Relief’ – Online Exhibit – @printsforpandemicrelief www.printsforpandemicrelief.com (for charity)
- ‘Evolve’ – Online Exhibit – @zcurated @elevenheartsfoundation (for charity)
Other mentions in 2020
- Saatchi Gallery – weekly challenge – ‘Paper Creations’
- Ox-bow School of Art and Artist’s Residency – Alumni Stories
- Auctioned work for charity through Gallery 6, Islamabad. All proceeds helped provide ration for families affected by Covid-19 for one month.
