It was during the peak of the pandemic, I realized, I had the time that I was always looking for to pursue my love for architecture and art, and finish the artworks that I had left incomplete. I went back to my old sketchbooks and artworks, and came across some old photographs of ShahJahan Mosque in Thatta, Pakistan. I immediately felt connected to this place and starting sketching the images I had inside my head from my holidays there years ago.
“its home, my heritage, my identity….”
This painting was actually a process and has many layers that are not very clearly visible now. I spent many days … months… just looking at it and trying to draw what I remembered. Never completely satisfied, I kept working on it for months and by that time the categories for Grayson’s Art Club Series 3 were announced and I finally found the courage to submit this artwork, and to my surprise (more of a shock) it was featured on the show.
“There is something about spaces that are meaningful to us. They are so impactful. That’s what I like about making this show. People put their hearts into things and you have done that in a lovely way. So well done, Farina.” Grayson Perry
During lockdown, Grayson Perry, one of Britain's foremost artists, brought the nation together through art, helping them to unleash their creativity as part of his Channel 4 TV series. Every week he hosted the show from his own studio - taking the country with him as he created his own new art works. Each week a different theme was explored.
You can watch the show here https://www.channel4.com/programmes/graysons-art-club/o
The Shah Jahan Mosque, was selected by Grayson Perry for Grayson’s Art Club, season 3. Our conversation about this artwork was aired on Channel 4 In Episode 5 on the theme of ‘Holidays’. The painting was part of the National Exhibition, that took place at Midland Arts Centre – MAC Birmingham from December 2022 – June 2023
“Art can do many things. It can conjure up things we are missing and yearning for, and take us there, which is one of the key strengths of visual arts. We try to interpret it but maybe we should just try to experience it, like a visit to a beautiful building.” Grayson Perry
The exhibition featured over 100 artworks selected by Sir Grayson Perry, Philippa Perry, and guest celebrities during season three of the popular TV series, Grayson's Art Club. The programme and the exhibition have brought the nation together through art and has encouraged people to celebrate their collective creativity. The exhibited artworks covered a wide variety of mediums, such as photography, painting, textiles and sculpture and the exhibition themes include Love, Heroes and Heroines, Normal Life, Inside my Head, Holidays, The Future, and The Queen. Contributing celebrities included Cornelia Parker, Joe Lycett, Bill Bailey, Jo Brand, Joe Wilkinson, Mawaan Rizwan, Katy Wix and Dame Prue Leith.
