Lived Experiences brings together three artists - Bolo (artist duo Saks Afridi and Qinza Najm), Julius John Alam, and Vered Snear whose recent works revolve around performances of lived experiences of 'other'. The works each bring attention to the resultant 'borders' between entities - or even between states of being, and all seem to be motivated at least in part by social activism, while leaving any political or moral statements less clear. Some of the pieces have been presented in different places within different formats, but in every case the works are process-based with important elements of the affect coming from that process.
The lived experiences that have inspired the works in this show all come from melancholia and trauma and the works all seem to urge viewers towards transformation. Transformation takes on the nature of transience in Julius John Alam's work of ash, perhaps suggesting the viewer also transform through acceptance. Vered Snear's installation and video art work explores the ideas of control, ideology, and perspectives of the 'other' in context of tense Israeli-Palestinian border excursions, consisting of tunnels and checkpoints. Bolo's works on political borders embody transformation and engages the viewer in what approaches the show's most overt statement.
Bolo, which means "Speak (up)" in Urdu, was collaboratively formed in NYC in 2014. Both artists' roots are originally in Pakistan. Saks Afridi is a multi-disciplinary artist with 17 years of global experience also in advertizing and as a Creative Director. He has previously shown the installation #HOOKED at Twelve Gates Arts in October 2014. In 2015 Afridi was the recipient of a United Nations Award for Peace & Understanding, among other awards. Qinza Najm primarily paints and also holds a PhD in Psychology from Tennessee State University. She has studied art at Savannah College of Art & Design and Bath University (UK) in addition to participating in workshops in various places, including Dubai. She has been exhibiting work in Pakistan, the UAE and United States since 2008. In 2016, Bolo will have a large-scale hanging installation open to the public at Children's Museum in Manhattan, which will be on view for 3 years.
Julius John Alam has spent most of his life living in Pakistan; he received a BFA with Distinction in Painting at NCA in Lahore, Pakistan in 2013. In 2014 he received a Fulbright Award to complete an MFA at Parsons New School for Design, which is currently underway. He also work in sculpture and installation art and has exhibited at East Gallery at Parsons, DUCTAC in Dubai, as well as Canvas Art Gallery, Taseer Art Gallery, Rohtas II, Gallery 39K and Alhamra Art Gallery, all in Pakistan.
Vered Snear was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and works both there and in New York City. She studied Photography at Minshar for Art in Israel and also earned a Masters of Interdisciplinary Arts at Tel-Aviv University. She has exhibited work in Israel and the United States since 2013, and in 2015 her work was included in a group exhibition, Pausing just to keep up at Sawtooth Artist Run Initiative in Tasmania, Australia. In 2015 and 2016 she received the Provost Scholarship for Studying at Parsons New School of Design, where she has been completing an MFA.