Nooks of Power

This exhibition marks the completion of Sophiya’s journey on the Tashkeel Critical Practice Programme (CPP), mentored by Salima Hashmi and Dawn Ross.

The artist has spent the last 18 months in self-reflection, weeding out mental junk and triggering a reset of her practice. For most of this journey, she has worked in a fluid way, pushing the boundaries of drawing by both playing with size and technique.

‘Nooks of Power’ aims to investigate the ways in which humans acquire, hoard and unleash authoritative power, with Sophiya dissecting herself as ‘Specimen No.1’. Divided into five distinct series, the works are all executed on paper using techniques from pastels to digital prints, employing acrylics, thread, collage, tea-wash and gouache. Each series is accompanied by a short explanatory text by the artist presented on the adjacent wall or incorporated within the work. These stories depict scenarios that were playing in Sophiya’s mind while creating the work in her studio.

Launched in 2014, the Tashkeel Critical Practice Programme offers sustained studio support, critique, mentorship and production to UAE-based artists. Alumni: Afra Bin Dhaher, Vikram Divecha, Hadeyeh Badri, Raja’a Khalid, Lantian Xie, Debjani Bhardwaj, Jalal Bin Thaneya, Silvia Hernando Álvarez, Chafa Ghaddar, Mays Albaik, Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi, Hind Mezaina, Nora Zeid, Shamma Al Amri and Shazia Salam.