ART FACTS: strength, protection and spirituality

For over forty years now Nahid Raza is painting with a vision to create awareness among the masses regarding women issues in our society. Basically she is a conceptual artist who uses the female forms and figures to expresses herself. All of her works dominate by the oppressed women theme throughout her career. She creates attractive paintings in a very free and impressionistic manner.
But her current series is unique in a way that she let go of the women figures instead uses symbolic women elements such as threads and laces and stitch them on the canvas to signify women.
The two series of her paintings related to the subject of Holy Ka'bah - "Square + (Plus)" and "Touch" explains that there is more in addition to a square shape of the Ka'bah, it is a bond, a thread between the soul and the Holy place. The visual and spiritual impact of this Holy place sparks an undefined feeling inside her which makes her paint the current series.
"There is an artistic vision in Ka'bah's square element. A unique feeling of strength, power, protection and spirituality comes with the sight of this Holy place. I feel spiritually elevated while painting the holy Ka'bah", said Nahid Raza while elaborating her recent artworks exhibiting at Chawkandi Art Gallery, Karachi.
On inquiring about the inspiration of this subject Nahid Raza explained to me that when she came back after performing Ummrah she brought with her the images of the Holy Ka'bah in her mind. While going through her daily routine she couldn't stop thinking about the Holy Ka'bah and then she decided to transform her inner feelings on the canvas.
"I am not so much religious but the Ka'bah square attracted me to such an extent that I got fascinated by the artistic vision of this square place. I want to portray Ka'bah in a new spiritual way."
She used threads and laces stitched to the paintings symbolically to represent the women presence and a bond between the Holy place and humans which is like a thread and it is stitched to us through our soul and thoughts. Some of the paintings show images of hand which is a symbol that every person who goes to perform Hajj or Umrah wants to touch the Holy Ka'bah and Hajr-e-Aswad not a single person comes back from there without touching the Holy Ka'bah and Hajr-e-Aswad. While touching you get the feeling of being elevated, your mind and spirit strengthen.
Her paintings strike the viewers very forcefully and the images and forms show a formidable display of skill - she has a good sense of design and ability to handle colour.
A feeling of loyalty, obedience and calmness arise when one views her paintings. She depicts the good and the strong side of a person's soul. The glimpses of Holy Ka'bah in her paintings became more attractive with a play of colour and variation of texture. Thus patchy and dappled effects are created in yellow, blue, red and green shades.
With all her good intentions the meaning and awareness came through her paintings. The immense variety of her works has been well controlled into a total satisfying harmony. She believes that portraying the positive side of our issues is very essential to solve the problems around us. [email protected]