We are thrilled to inform that our dear friend Veera Rustomji will have a solo exhibition at VM Art Gallery in Karachi Pakistan.
VM Art Gallery is pleased to present Fish Meets Grill, a solo exhibition by Veera Rustomji, opening on 24th March 2021 from 11am – 7pm. The exhibition will continue until 11th April 2021.
The title refers to a recipe as an anecdote for the ultimate fate of creatures cooked to reach charred perfection. If we think about the ‘manly’ activity of fishing, it is usually an idealised form of bonding and an attempt of being at one with nature. However, perhaps we should also consider how fanfare masculinity expressed through activities such as fishing and hunting leave traces of unwarranted developments and divisions in our environment through both intangible and seaborne ways.
This is a story of disparate elements connected through autobiographical and fantastical accounts. The subtle kookiness of mythic sea life leaves us to ponder about fictitious beings and erased lands connecting architecture and storytelling. This body of work also takes into account the pleasure sought from consuming and participating in these narratives, animating marine life through colonial waves, and gendered footprints. Some of these stories are told by production houses like Disney or Netflix and some of the marine life stories are excavated through researchers and archaeologists. As we are embroiled in a perpetual contest of erasing diversity from the coast to the hills, pulling the land out from underneath others’ feet, and wearing the skins of beings on our backs, it is safe to say we are at an irrevocable stage with our surroundings. These are the musings before the calamities.
VM Art Gallery will only allow a limited number of visitors within the space at once in order to follow social distancing SOPs in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. To avoid having to wait outside the gallery, please call ahead of time. All visitors will be required to wear a mask and get their temperature checked at the door.
Failure to follow Gallery protocol will result in visitors being asked to leave the premises. Please help us follow safe practices during your visit to avoid unnecessary complications.
About the artist:
Veera Rustomji (b. 1992) is an artist from Karachi, Pakistan. She holds a BFA from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (2015) and an MA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts, UAL (2019). Alongside pursuing her visual art practice, she teaches within the Fine Art Department at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. From 2015 – 2018 she curated and managed residencies in Karachi with Vasl Artists’ Association as a Project Coordinator and during her time in London she worked with the Learning & Collections Department at the Royal Academy of Arts. She is a recipient of the UAL Postgraduate International Scholarship Award and is part of a Chelsea alumni collective named Portland. As an artist she has displayed internationally; some key highlights include Rossi & Rossi, London, The Arts Licks Weekend, Aicon Gallery NYC and the 2017 Karachi Biennale.