CENTRAL, Hong Kong – A Pakistani artist has been shortlisted for this years’ BMW Art Journey – a joint initiative by BMW and Art Basel dedicated to exploring the creativity of emerging artists.
Ali Kazim is among the three shortlisted persons – Berlin-based Zac Langdon-Pole, Los Angeles-based Gala Porras-Kim – who have been selected from Art Basel Hong Kong’s Discoveries section.
Kazim lives and works in Lahore, Pakistan. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the Slade School of Fine Art, London. And works for Jhaveri Contemporary, Mumbai.
Kazim forms multi-layered compositions to create uniquely textured paintings that include elements of narrative and fantasy. He works meticulously in watercolour and graphite, using techniques acquired from studying the watercolour wash and miniature painting techniques of the Bengal and Mughal schools.
The artist presented an immersive installation that draws a primary inspiration from the landscape around his hometown of Lahore in Art Basel. Kazim will participate in the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, opening in November 2018 in Brisbane.
Alongside Kazim the Berlin-based artist Zac Langdon-Pole (Michael Lett, Auckland, New Zealand) and the Los Angeles-based artist Gala Porras-Kim (Commonwealth and Council, Los Angeles). Each artist will be invited to submit a proposal for an art project that involves a journey to anywhere in the world.
The three shortlisted artists are now invited to develop a proposal for their ideal journey, with the winner to be announced in early summer 2018.
