Written by: Varda Nisar
Posted on: January 30, 2019 | 
| 中文
Water Mirrors (I & II)
There couldn’t have been a more apt title for Natasha Shoro’s current display at the Koel Gallery, Karachi. ‘Transcending Boundaries,’ leaps across boundaries in every possible way, whether literal or metaphorical.
Based in USA, Natasha Shoro’s work has broken through physical barriers and found its place in this gallery space in Karachi, upon entering which you are surrounded by colourful canvases, which reflect the dynamics of abstract expressionism. Her life’s journey itself befits the title of her show, which has seen her travel extensively and then carry those influences forward in her work. Mixing techniques and choosing to express herself through a wide variety of mediums, Shoro’s recent work is an exploration of her own identity. One can see that the layering of colours and materials through collages is an important part of how she has developed her practice in relation to her experiences, where one aspect rests strongly on the previous one, before the next is developed.
To experience her work is to let oneself be overtaken by a sea of colors. It is to go up close to the work and let it immerse you in the wide range and depth of meanings that these colours are trying to communicate. Her most powerful works, in the opinion of this reviewer, were those which flirted with the colour blue, producing a calming yet overpowering feeling. However, that is only part of the story; the narrative of the work comes through in its totality through the collaboration of the mother-daughter duo. The images are accompanied by Anushe Shoro’s poems and words, which are instrumental in giving an interpretive quality to the works. This is exemplified by the first text you encounter, titled “Being Transcends Boundaries,” which sets the tone for the rest of the exhibition, but is also a biographical reflection of the journey of the artist. Shoro’s childhood has been spent travelling to various countries and taking on the multi-cultural influences of those places. Another quality which adds to the experience of the works is their sheer size. Such an intense consideration of how the various elements come together to speak about the work, points towards the detail-oriented nature of the artist. It is only through considering the words, the works, and the size that one can truly understand the message of the artist.
In “Sun Rays, Earth Skin” and “Dream, Earth Skin,” both mixed media work on canvas, Shoro employs collage as a technique to communicate with her viewers. The juxtaposition of forms and layering of the various elements, the variety of earthy browns, combine with the rays, to constantly form a connection within the work and beyond it, between the earth and the sky.
As an abstract artist though, Shoro’s skills and technique are best reflected in works like “Life,” “Transcending Boundaries,” and “Spiritual Identity.” The conceptualization of the works on multiple frames conveys a sense of the continuation of the subject matter. The lines and colours travel along these frames showcasing a constant flow of an idea or identity, making its way through various phases/frames. Her manipulation of a colour through marking, adds to the complications she creates on canvas, giving them depth and reflective of her “self” as an artist and person.
“Water Mirrors,” a two part work, acts as a reflection of each other, where the swirls of paints remind one of the calmness of the deep sea. It is also another testament to her technique as an artist, where the colour takes on a thousand different tones and qualities, to express intense and subtle emotions.
Natasha Shoro’s work has a reflective quality, and everyone is bound to experience the show in their own way. Given time, her work tends to grow on you, much like the quiet acceptance of life and whatever it throws at you.
The works will be on display at Koel Gallery till 7th February.
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