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66 90x80 Sana Waqar Khan.JPG

MAPPING PLEASURE | 2024

Sana Waqar Khan 

Acrylic on Canvas, 80x90cm

"Mapping Pleasure" is a captivating abstract painting that visualizes data collected over two distinct 50-day periods during the summers of 2023 and 2024. This artwork serves as a comparative study of the artist's everyday life, contrasting the experience of being employed full-time in 2023 with the freedom of being jobless in 2024. Through a dynamic interplay of colors, shapes, and textures, the painting offers a poignant commentary on how capitalist structures shape our perceptions of success, prosperity, and happiness. The composition serves as a map, meticulously color-coded and structured according to the data collected over 100 days, offering a visual timeline of the artist's experiences and emotions.

In the 2023 segment, the painting is dominated by rigid, coarsely textured forms and muted tones, reflecting the artist's experience of long working hours in shades of grey. The pursuit of financial and professional stability leads to burnout, leaving little time for the activities that bring true pleasure. Life is depicted as a series of repetitive, mechanical actions, underscored by a stark absence of joy and creativity.

Conversely, the 2024 segment bursts with vibrant colors and fluid forms, symbolizing the artist's shift towards activities that genuinely bring joy and fulfillment. Freed from the constraints of a 9-to-5 job, she delves into travelling, painting, writing, praying, working out and spending time with her loved ones. This part of the painting exudes a sense of liberation and contentment, celebrating the intrinsic value of pursuing one's passions over materialistic pursuits.

SANA WAQAR KHAN

Sana Waqar is a multidisciplinary artist/designer from Pakistan, based in Dubai. With over a decade of training and experience in the field of textile, fashion and visual arts, Sana has participated in numerous freelance projects and exhibitions, both locally and internationally. Her work has been awarded at the 15th annual Young Artist Exhibition by Alhamra Arts Council Lahore and also included in the Imago Mundi Project Venice.

Sana graduated with an MA in Art and Design Studies from Beaconhouse National University in 2019 and later joined as a teaching associate in the School of Visual Art and Design. Sana is passionate about decoding abstract imagery, data visualization, exploring mapping techniques and critical writing. She is represented by Artezaar online gallery and exhibited her paintings at World Art Dubai 2022 and 2023 along with group shows at Reem Art Gallery, The Ren House and Cross Borders Art Gallery. She also won a design competition held by Alserkal Avenue and participated in the first Design Summit Lahore, ‘Simultaneity as Design’.

As a creative practitioner, Sana is always open to learning new skills and gaining diverse experience in the field of art and design. She has been a part of Campus Art Dubai 10.0 Programme as an Exhibitor Relations Assistant and later joined the Jameel Arts Centre as a Learning Assistant, designing and facilitating interactive family workshops, leading exhibition tours and managing learning events. Sana continues to develop her practice and take on exciting new projects and commissions along with conducting family workshops at Jameel Arts Centre as a freelance workshop coordinator.

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