Congruity & Contradictions: Echoes of The Self by Asma Hashmi & Aisha Darr

About

Aisha and Asma explore the nexus between self-awareness, the concept of fulfilment and the impact of internal conflict and duality on our existential character. While their approach is distinct and diverse the thematic overlaps are significant and substantial. In this exhibition their paintings express a breadth of emotions and sensations captured in moments and movements of the journey of self.
Aisha explores a gestalt sense of wholeness; a spiritual coming together of the mind and body juxtaposed with interrupted cycles and unfulfilled desires. Her work mirrors the contradictions and duality through the starkness and fluidity of the ballpoint pen and investigates congruity through voluptuous, organic forms that characterize her work.

Asma looks at the soul through the multiple seams and gradations of sexual desires and exploitation. She uses the layering process and the line quality to communicate the contradictions between deep sense of loss, anger and despondency, interwoven
with the unveiling of a sense of self that comes with age. Her work speaks in the fullness of colour and the meditative patterns that emerge from patchwork and sewing.

Aasma Hashmi

Aasma Hashmi’s work delves into the dialogue between self-actualization and the sexual subtleties of being a South Asian woman in today’s world. Aasma explores the inherent discomfort of being inside a woman’s body and the intricacy of female sexuality and gender undercurrents; communicated through her use of intricate lines and overt layering. The gradations of color address the diverse and complex emotions and passions of a woman through a rich visual landscape. Aasma’s art is evocative of female genitalia covered in sheer layers of social norms and expectations. She uses the layering process and the line quality to communicate a deep sense of loss, anger and despondency that is intrinsically interwoven
with the unveiling of a sense of self that comes with age. Her art explores in depth the symbolism of eternal beauty, exploited in order to suppress passion and acceptance of female sexuality and desires.

Aasma Hashmi works as an artist and art educator. She completed her Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Hawaii, U.S.A in 1992; and her under graduate degree from National College of Arts, Pakistan in 1986.

Aisha Darr

Aisha Darr Mumtaz is an artist and educationist. Aisha’s artwork is focused on her explorations of the ball point pen as her primary medium and her study of raw, intangible emotion and human complexities. As an artist Aisha is intrigued by the unforgiving quality of the ball pen; of the idea of each stoke of a ball pen on paper being an emotion that leaves an indelible mark on a person’s inner self.

Aisha’s art has always been a therapeutic and explorative space for her to understand human emotions and psychology. The predominant theme, in her imagery is rooted in the idea of the circular nature of life in all its manifestations. She investigates the contradictions and starkness of life, trauma and separation striving for a balance with overwhelming compassion, peace and fulfilment. Her work embodies the intrinsic duality of life, it captures a moment, breathing in the here and now whilst she simultaneously explores visions and vibes for the future and from the past. Aisha’s visual vocabulary creates what she refers to as ‘concentric circles of compassion’, having worked through anger, high emotion and passion her art strives to arrive at an inner equilibrium.

Aisha Darr completed her MSc. from University of Oxford in Comparative and International Education. She studied International Politics at Bryn Mawr College, U.S.A and Fine Arts from William Smith College, U.S.A. Aisha is currently living in Oxford UK with her husband and two children and is working towards becoming a humanistic therapist.