Currently working on a new series of paintings and sculpture, Rabia Zuberi’s ‘Landscape of Humanity’ is a new direction in her aesthetic vocation; one that reveals her continuing concern for suffering humanity. To the artist ‘Landscape’ once meant nature’s bounty, peaceful stretches of land. Gazing at world maps, one found beauty, oceans and mountains and a sense of history. Today the world is mapped with destruction and violence; thousands of migrants are looking for places to raise their children and live in peace. In Zuberi’s landscapes, identical painted figures fill the spaces outlined as in maps. Painting with oil on canvas, the artist creates a textural idiom of global appeal.

The acclaimed artist and educationist has the distinction of being the first woman sculptor in Pakistan. The subject of her work has always been inspired by her perception of life around her. The “Dignity of Labour” series began in the ’70s, a “Dupatta” series emerged with a feminist theme, and the magnificent “Peace Message” which she donated to the National Art Gallery, is a cry to the world from the heart of an artist.

Working constantly through the years, Zuberi’s work has been acclaimed in exhibitions mounted throughout Pakistan and abroad. She is the recipient of numerous honours and awards including the President’s Pride of Performance, but she remains unchanged.

Rabia Zuberi mounted her first exhibition in Karachi in ’69 and 50 sculpted artworks were shown at the Pakistan American Cultural Centre. It was a celebratory occasion with interest and appreciation shown by the media. A second solo exhibition was held at the Indus Gallery in 1972, and during that decade, Zuberi began to analyse the human form with a reference to abstraction, elongating form and emphasising space. It was an exciting era of art in the city; artists were extremely encouraging and often visited the school to talk and work with the students.

Rabia Zuberi creates a textural idiom of universal appeal about suffering humanity

Construction for the present Karachi School of Art in Gulshan-i-Iqbal began in 1977 and watching the work in process, inspired the artist to start the “Dignity of Labour” series. At the beginning of the ’80s, Zuberi was nominated as the chairperson of the Karachi Arts Council’s Fine Arts Committee. She took up the challenge in spite of her busy schedule and worked with commitment for three years where she discovered stockpile of paintings, an event that led to the opening of the Faridi Art Gallery with a permanent collection.

At that time Zuberi began to incorporate elements of design in her work, and the “Duputta” series emerged, a series supported with drawings, paintings and collage. Her aesthetic expression changed when at the end of the decade a period of political unrest and violence took over the city, and she created a series of work titled “Quest for Peace” involving standing forms and reliefs fashioned from bronze fibre and copper. A collection of paintings and drawings continuing the theme of human suffering that was exhibited throughout the country, were also included the bird of peace enmeshed in cobwebs.

From that time Rabia treasures a note penned by the British Art critic and artist Gregory Minissale who wrote in a message to Zuberi that he found her sculpted pieces extremely passionate and moving.

There were numerous exciting events and functions that took place at the Karachi School of Art, but unknown to her friends the artist was deeply disturbed by the troubled state of the world. She began to work privately late at night for a period of three years, creating a monumental sculpture consisting of seven figures. Each of the figures worked in bronze fibre and steel was seven feet tall, standing in a circular composition measuring ten feet in diameter. This sculpture she titled “Peace Message from the Progressive World”. It was unlike anything the artist had produced before. The figures stood with arms uplifted or crossed defensively against their breasts and appeared to gaze down upon onlookers with reproach.

The ‘Peace Message’ sculpture was shown in exhibition for the first time at the Karachi Arts Council in 2003. It stands now at the National Art Gallery, Islamabad, donated by Zuberi who sends her message of peace to all visitors of the National Gallery.

In the latest series of work in process, “Landscape: Human Beings” it appears the artist encapsulates the helplessness of those without recourse throughout the globe. Standing together mute and indistinguishable, they represent suffering humanity in a cruel and violent universe.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, September 25th, 2015

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