Sahiba's Artist Lookbook (2020)

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: I’m Going to Bed Late Tonight Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Size: 60.9cm x 91.4cm Intention: This is an exploration of the feelings associated with self destructive behaviors. The figure is being forced to look forward by chains that are attached to the eyes, symbolizing a reliance on behaviors that are destructive. The bedroom reflected in the mirror speaks to the personal internal struggle of self harm, in any level of severity, as well as the comfort it may provide. The tissue box represents an attempt to help oneself, however the figure is stuck in place by the chains and bars.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: D.I.Y. Medium: Acrylic on paper Size: 144cm x 74.6cm Intention: This piece examines experiences around self destruction. As opposed to my similar piece, I’m Going to Bed Late Tonight, this painting depicts a figure that has grown ambivalent about the destruction they are knowingly causing. The dilapidated room which the figure stands in symbolizes how if these issues are ignored, the mind and body will deteriorate. This is further depicted through the fragility of the stick-like body.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: California (Lazarus) Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 35.5cm x 45.7cm Intention: This piece is a response to my previous paintings, D.I.Y. and I’m Going to Bed Late Tonight. The two similarly coloured and injured figures are embracing each other, symbolizing the importance of self love and comfort, as opposed to dwelling in negativity. Many of the facial features are made from wounds and cavities, which is representative of how we must confront our difficult experiences directly when moving forward, similar to how the figures are looking into each other's faces.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: Ephemerality is Opalescent Medium: Digital photographic print manipulated with Photoshop Size: 127cm X 177.8cm Intention: This photograph that I took of my four year old cousin, Myra, is a representation of the idea that we should live in the present, and not dwell in the negativity that surrounds us. I juxtaposed images associated with childhood alongside images of physical abnormalities or aspects of our appearance that are shamed.

These images alongside each other are symbolic of my belief that we should strive to be happy on our own terms, without worrying about something as superficial as our appearance.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: Follow the White Rabbit Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 45.7cm x 70cm Intention: With imagery inspired by a scene from the Wachowski Sisters’ The Matrix, this piece depicts a fetus within a tunnel that is lacerated, pierced by needles, embedded with eyes and furnished with chairs. This explores my value of imperfection, which is a part of everyone since birth that I believe should be embraced. This is emphasized through the placement of the chairs, which invite one to sit, and become comfortable with imperfection.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: Necrosis Medium: Collage Size: 25.5cm x 36cm Intention: This collage includes images from National Geographic magazines and a pathology textbook. In the foreground, there are images that represent different treatments and norms around death.

Despite these factors, whether it be religion, culture or relationships, we are all the same flesh. Therefore, beneath these images are photographs of organs that have caused death, which symbolizes how, at the end of the day, death is one of the few things that unites all humans.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: Happiness Medium: Digital photographic print manipulated with Photoshop Size: 127cm X 177.8cm Intention: I used Photoshop to edit four photographs I took of clowns to explore the distortion of reality through the Internet.

Social media is teeming with ‘influencers’ that project an image of perfection. In my piece, the clowns represent these influencers, as their happy-looking makeup is similar to fakeness on the Internet.

The eyes surrounding them symbolize consumers of this media, who damage both themselves and the influencers by believing their utopian facade of reality to be true.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: Scopophilia Medium: Ink and pencil on paper Size: 35cm x 52.5cm Intention: This diptych explores the male gaze, alongside my view of the female gaze. The faces in the circle allude to a peephole, hinting at the voyeuristic qualities of the male gaze. In one piece, a man is forcing his face through the hole, symbolizing the male gaze from a woman’s view. In the lower piece, a woman’s face is forced to look through the hole, similar to how women are expected to adopt and comply with the male gaze. The commanding text was inspired by Barbara Kruger’s feminist works.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA

Title: Penance Medium: Painted clay in slime, contained within a tea box Size: 18.5cm x 16.5cm x 12cm Intention: Through this interactive sculpture, I am critiquing the abuse of children within the Catholic Church. The brightly coloured blocks with oddlooking faces on them symbolize the luring of children by the many priests that have abused their power. They lay in slime to represent how the passive interaction with religion allows atrocities to continue, as the viewers hands get dirty by touching the slime.

Everything I See is Red SAHIBA