PROJECTS PAGE | Araam: Breathing Space

[Exhibition] [Artist Information] [Press Release] [R&D Visit Images] [Touring]

27 June to 15 August 2009

Mid Pennine Arts
Yorke Street
Burnley
BB11 1HD

Gallery opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm
Free Entry  |  Disabled Access
For more information please call 01282 421986 or visit
www.midpenninearts.org.uk

Araam is a unique partnership project initiated by Shisha in partnership with Mid Pennine Arts. The first of its kind, and building on cultural links between the North West of England and Pakistan, the project highlights the work of two exciting, contemporary UK artists, Halima Cassell and Zarah Hussain, through residencies in Pakistan and the UK and a unique exhibition at the Mid Pennine Gallery.

Araam has been developed to enable 'breathing space' for the artists to research, develop new ideas and experiment with creative disciplines. During this process, both Cassell and Hussain will be exploring their Pakistani roots, issues around identity and pushing boundaries in their creative practices. Cassell and Hussain use very different artistic mediums, but both are inspired by their ancestral heritage and Islamic influences through pattern and architecture resonate in their work.

National College of Art, Lahore

As an ongoing project, Araam has been developed through a number of phases. An initial research and development visit to art schools, museums, galleries and cultural centres in the Pakistani cities of Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi was undertaken earlier this year by Halima Cassell, Shisha’s Deputy Director, Fareda Khan, and Mid Pennine Arts Director, Nick Hunt. As well as a brief introduction to Pakistan’s vibrant traditional and contemporary visual art and craft scene, the visit galvanised existing links and formed partnerships between Shisha and two international art schools and a dynamic artist collective to establish the artist residency programme for Halima Cassell. In addition, the visit supported the Pakistani art schools’ aims to connect students with international makers/artists. Mid Pennine Arts forged friendship links to support an exchange programme between Pakistan and local Pennine Lancashire schools.

Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi

Ceramic artist Cassell then spent almost 6 weeks in Pakistan (1 April to 12 May 2009) for the second stage of the project — a split-site residency starting in Karachi at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, a prestigious academic institution, and also with VASL, a highly renowned artist collective in Karachi. Cassell then moved on to Lahore where she was based at the internationally acclaimed National College of Arts, also working with students at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore.

Cassell spent her time in Pakistan researching, developing ideas and exploring new artistic and local craft techniques and methodologies, which are specific to different regions. Hussain will be involved in a residency programme at Mid Pennine Arts.

Work in progress, inspired by the artists’ creative explorations will feature in the Araam: Breathing Space exhibition at Mid Pennine Gallery from 27 June to 15 August 2009. The exhibition will showcase the artists’ developmental work and will provide an opportunity to document the innovative, intercultural and experimental component of the Araam project. Both artists will participate in the artist in residency programme at Mid Pennine Gallery.

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