SM Raza

About the artist

S.M. Raza is a visual artist and educator whose work has been featured in both local and international art exhibitions. Raza has done his BFA from the University of Karachi in 2009. He participated in artist residencies at the Gyeonggi Creation Center in South Korea in 2012 and the Vasl Artist Residency in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2011. Raza has held several solo exhibitions, including “An Ode to Silence” in 2022, “Pipe Dream” in 2013 at Artchowk Gallery, and "Lucid Dreams" at Canvas Art Gallery in Karachi in 2016. He has also served as a senior concept artist at Waadi Animations for the animated movie “3 Bahadur” and other art projects. Currently, he is working as an adjunct faculty member in the Visual Studies Department at the University of Karachi and the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture.

The new body of work is deeply rooted in my teenage memories of our old house and its surroundings. I often wandered the dimly lit streets of Korangi, observing the silhouettes of aged houses against the night sky. What started as a mere hobby during my teenage years developed into a lasting fascination, especially after our relocation from our hometown. The COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the entire city being shut down, prompted me to rediscover the city through nighttime walks. Like many neighborhoods in Karachi, Korangi has a distinct character that evokes a sense of nostalgia, layered with both joy and melancholy. The area's low voltage illuminates light bulbs with an orange hue, imparting a dramatic atmosphere to the surroundings. On moonlit nights, the entire town appears to transform into a dreamscape, revealing enchanting compositions of light and shadow that seem harmoniously arranged. Yet, they are assembled inadvertently, particularly when the streets are plunged into darkness due to a power outage. Each residence carries a unique narrative, shrouded in mystery and waiting to be unveiled, which enhances the intrigue of the area. These memories often resurface in my dreams, where I envision myself hovering above those houses, enveloped in their stories.