I grew up up in one of the largest cities in the world, Karachi, Pakistan. I have seen, heard and been part of social injustice without fully realizing how it affects others. Traveling through three continents, many countries, and countless cities, I met many people and have noticed that religions, cultures, and societies change; but one common thread is oppression.

 

For this series I used digital photography.  I have developed a personal set of symbols - I arrange humans to create a throne upon which a figure sits. Keeping in mind the message I want to express, I chose wardrobes in neutral and warm colors for the actors in the throne as well as the ‘oppressor.’  I used positive and negative space to create emphasis on the subject and relied heavily upon symmetrical balance.  I seek to express visually how certain populations are abusing others for their own comfort and agenda. Based on my observations, a majority of people are taught to take orders and go through life without noticing that they are part of a system of oppression: either complicit with the oppressing forces or being oppressed - or both simultaneously - in the name of religion, culture, and society. In this series I portray some common forms of oppression including gender, class, and organized religion.  I put myself in the role of the oppressor to demonstrate that each of us needs to look inside ourselves and question our role in these common occurrences.

 

My work’s intent is to explore and observe human progress, compel others to ask questions, and leave a positive mark behind. The most integral part of my work is the message it conveys.  I hope to contribute to increasing awareness of inequality and build a more humane world.