Play / Pause : The Series. An Insight
Selected work and writing behind the series 'Play/Pause, by Shumaiya Khan. On-going series 2022. As seen in 'UNARCHIVED' at Redchurch Street Studio, Soho House Group.
The series Play is an offshoot of ‘Control’, the 180 turn, disassociation, moving on and release of a former to float into a playground. Where previously ‘Control’ for a short time, explored external coercion from a collectivist culture of Khan’s early upbringing - queue ‘What will people think?’. ‘Play’ sees how pleasure, peace and autonomy develops within the individual apart and temporarily amongst a more chosen, smaller gathering. Pleasure in its purest forms, from laughter to sensuality to ‘just being’.
Play : Life on Mars. 2022. 91cm x 122cm. Acrylic on gessoed cotton.
Play : The Fucking Sigh. 2022. 91cm x 122cm. Acrylic and charcoal on gessoed cotton.
This piece has been through numerous iterations, none of which I felt true connection to. The irony being, this piece is very much about ‘the sensual female’ in her element. On first understanding of what that term means, most look towards sexuality and an aesthetic. Sure, I can claim that I am a sexual woman and it’s something I can’t wash off. In another light, at its core, is a feeling and a way of being.
In its original form, the piece was soft, cloud like and spoke about desire, the give and take in unions, and actually, sex. However, there was a realisation, as though I’d placed a sensor over my image, and how intense my personal world truly is. There was a need to remove an overcast of where to be understood, there had to be another energy playing off my own.
It would be wrong to limit the term ‘sensual’ to only its yang (masculine) counterpart needs. The sensual yin energy, can exist in itself, without limit, without need to spend on anything else other than herself. We would be fools to think desire starts and ends with such a limited palette.
Pause : Was It Ever Enough. 2022. 120cm x 120cm. Acrylic and charcoal on gessoed cotton.
Available for viewing at 18 Club Row, Redchurch St, London
Some poetry on the backs of canvases
Pause : In Sickness and In Health. 2022. 120cm x 120cm. Acrylic and charocal on gessoed cotton. Daul sided painted canvas.
Play : Lost Girls, 2022. 91cm x 91cm. Acrylic and charcoal on gessoed cotton.
Pause : Lost Girls. 2022. 91cm x 91cm. Acrylic and charcoal on gessoed cotton.
Pause : 2am. 2022. 91cm x 122cm. Acrylic on gessoed cotton.
