Lawrie Shabibi is pleased to announce the addition of Adeel uz Zafar to its growing roster. His first solo exhibition at the gallery will take place in February 2013. Zafar was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1975. He completed his BFA from the National College (NCA) Lahore, graduating in 1988 and in 2008 joined Indus Valley School of Art. Known for his unique and meticulous scratching technique, Zafar's early practice involved engraving exposed photographic sheets with a paper cutter which was the base of his empirical observation and the development of his technique. Today Zafar works in minute detail on a large scale of black plastic vinyl sheets featuring gauzed stuffed animal toys completely alien to traditional Pakistani society.
Zafar's work is both terrifying and amusing. His subject matters wrapped in bandages evoke childhood anxiety, turning comforting objects into monstrous figures. He gives his work a sinister feel by bandaging his objects and hiding them from view hinting to the loss of innocence and to the disintegration of the socio-political framework in Pakistan and to the pain that results.
Adeel uz Zafar has taken part in a number of group exhibitions in Pakistan and in 2010 he exhibited at Fost Gallery in Singapore and Slick Art Fair, Paris. In 2012, Zafar showed at Pulse Art Fair, NY and took part in a group exhibition titled Stop, Play, Pause, Repeat at Lawrie Shabibi. Most recently, the artist has been invited by the Parramatta Artist Studios in collaboration with Cicada Press (COFA, UNSW) for an international print making residency from 15 April - 17 May 2013.