Plenty of contemporary artists struggle to receive recognition. But often, their works just click with the public. Like one female Pakistani artist and her rendition of the ‘Last Supper’.
We’re all aware of Leonardo DaVinci’s ‘Last Supper’ a renaissance masterpiece by the revolutionary artist and inventor. However, one Pakistani artist Sujjal Kayani gave her own twist to the classic.
Her art symbolizes the chains and locks on all our individual wings.
This emotive set of creations seems to be part of a series titled ‘I am your skin’. In all the various artworks comprising the series, the birds with chained wings seem to be a constant.
Sujjal Kayani’s most recent addition to the series.
She captioned the video of her artwork;
“Jahan teri ye nazar hai.. (wherever your set your sights)
Oh, wondrous one! Let go of all your fears,
Say goodbye to your painful guardian,
Be a rose without thorns, twirl with the Wind in a place called hope.”
Calling out oppression in all its forms. Systemic or within interpersonal relationships is a recurring point highlighted through the artwork. If you can’t get the vibe, the artist penned poetry to explain the gist. For example, check out the caption with one of the earlier works in the ‘I am your skin’ series.
“My naive wanderer, why in a rush
Hold your winds and hear my hymn
I have lived a thousand lives in a hush.
For one day I want my angel to be free
Be me, paint thy body with my color
Wear my skin, my agony, oh Listen to the plea.And I said:
In your sea of endurance, I bathed deep
The moment I wore your skin, your grief
Begged the sun to return my farewell kiss we promise to keep
I see flowers bearing a jewel of thorns bow down once they witness my pain and weep.
Oh, who has lived thousands of lives, my beloved!
This world will sing a ballad of your tolerance If they live that one eternal day.
Let me tear down your sorrowful skin that resentful burden, I wish you breathe.
My estranged lover, I too seek what you dream, but wait! Ask the world’s gods if they can see me breathe.”
This project has been a long time in the making. With the first piece dating back to August 2021.
What do you think of this Pakistani artist and her work? Do you get the vibe or not? Let us know in the comments below.
