RIYADH: Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar’s striking work features vibrant colours and surreal depictions of South Asian and Arab cultures, and focuses on addressing the challenges faced by women and girls in society.
Anwar, 24, was born in Pakistan and moved to Saudi Arabia when she was eight. She spent her formative years in the capital, attending Manarat Riyadh International School. She left the kingdom at 18 to attend university in Canada, and then returned.
Riyadh-based Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar’s work was shaped by her life in Saudi Arabia, with some works focusing on the challenges faced by women and girls in society. (Courtesy/Adam Studio)
“I grew up here with people from different cultures, but I didn't often see families from different cultures interacting with each other. South Asians and Arabs interacted with each other at school, but I didn't see any media representation of that.
“I felt like our society outside of school was completely segregated, so I started doing cross-cultural work to represent the South Asian experience in the Middle East.”
Highetc.
• Zainab Anwar, 24, was born in Pakistan and moved to Saudi Arabia when she was eight.
• She grew up in the capital and attended Manarat Riyadh International School.
• Bright and colourful backgrounds inspired by Pakistani truck art are a hallmark of Anwar’s art.
Anwar began her artistic journey by depicting Pakistani women from diverse backgrounds.
“I later started drawing dark-skinned, hairy women because I felt that these were features that brown women were ashamed of. I saw Arab and South Asian girls bullying each other at school over these beauty standards.”
Riyadh-based Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar’s work was shaped by her life in Saudi Arabia, with some works focusing on the challenges faced by women and girls in society. (Courtesy/Adam Studio)
When she was struggling with mental health issues, art became her outlet.
“Later, I started using surreal art to describe the difficult emotions and experiences I was having with depression and anxiety. Growing up with mental health stigma, it took me a long time to understand these emotions, and making art about them helped me cope with them.”
Riyadh-based Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar’s work was shaped by her life in Saudi Arabia, with some works focusing on the challenges faced by women and girls in society. (Courtesy/Adam Studio)
She added: “I believe that art can help shed light on difficult issues and bring peace to those suffering from these social problems and mental illnesses.
“I found that society struggles to address the experiences that all women and girls face, like sexual harassment and unrealistic beauty standards.”
Riyadh-based Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar’s work was shaped by her life in Saudi Arabia, with some works focusing on the challenges faced by women and girls in society. (Courtesy/Adam Studio)
Bright and colorful backgrounds are a hallmark of Anwar’s art. “The main source of inspiration for the colours I use in my paintings is Pakistani culture,” she says.
“One of the art forms used by Pakistani truck drivers is called truck art. Truck drivers decorate their trucks with bright and contrasting colours to attract attention. I have been drawn to these trucks since I was a child and I think that is why I use bright colours in my work.”
Riyadh-based Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar’s work was shaped by her life in Saudi Arabia, with some works focusing on the challenges faced by women and girls in society. (Courtesy/Adam Studio)
Anwar’s portfolio showcases her experimental use of a variety of mediums, including traditional art forms such as ink, pencil, photography, and embroidery. Her current preference is to use acrylic paint in her work.
Anwar says that while she depicts aspects of South Asian and Arab culture, women tend to connect with her art regardless of where they come from. “They can relate to a lot of the universal experiences of being a woman that I portray in my work. People also appreciate cross-cultural work and see it as a reflection of the society we live in.”
Anwar says he tries to capture the full range of human experience, including joy and sadness, in his work, which he says is “important to society, both for the artist and for the viewer.”
