“My practice allows me to engage in a conversation with both my ancestors and future generations.”
- Areesha Khuwaja (Pakkhee)
Areesha Khuwaja, who goes by the name Pakkhee (which means bird in Sindhi), and describes herself as a passionate storyteller who uses art to weave cultural narratives and address social and environmental issues, is an artist and cultural practitioner from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
For the Emerging Creatives Program Pakkhee created multimedia illustrations which anthropomorphize the Karoonjhar mountains in Nagar Parker, Sindh. “Each stone in this multimedia artwork appears naturally carved to resemble a face,” she explained. “These faces, staring back as they are torn away, symbolize the innocence and beauty of the region being destroyed by granite mining. For the locals, this destruction feels like their mother’s milk is being taken away as they watch helplessly.”
She continued: “This piece calls for the halting of granite mining in these mountains, highlighting the environmental and cultural loss caused by such activities.” In addition to environmental challenges, such as being one of the top 10 most climate vulnerable countries in the world, as evidenced by the devastating flooding of 2022, Pakistan has a repressed civic space.
Pakkhee explained that the country’s environment can be challenging for activists, adding that “speaking out about religious and ethnic inequalities and gender issues can be risky, and there is often pushback from the establishment and religious extremists who benefit from a discord in the society. However, I have found ways to navigate these challenges by using symbolism and metaphors in my art to convey messages through my body of work subtly, yet powerfully.”
The artist went on: “While there are limitations on free expression, I strive to use my platform to its fullest potential, pushing boundaries and advocating for change within the constraints I face. I often take inspiration from Sindh’s spirit of creative resistance to keep me motivated.”
“Witnessing the socio-political challenges in my region,” she continued, “such as the erasure of certain religions, the stereotyping of certain cultures, and the internal colonization in Pakistan that undermines and commodifies indigenous cultures, I felt a strong need to use my creativity to interpret and visualize stories from my culture.”
MENTOR: Raef Payne | Art Director
PAKKHEE'S WORK
Global Citizen’s Emerging Creatives Program provides a platform for emerging creatives in the Global South that are highlighting the need for open civic space worldwide. Through their art, they call for change, shine a light on social injustices, and advocate for the advancement of the Global Goals.
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POET
South African-born Simphiwe Molefe, uses his photography to show the impacts of energy issues in the country. His collection of images titled, Impilo Iyaqhubeka, translates to mean “life goes on” in isiZulu and looks at how every day members of his community cope with South Africa’s ongoing power crisis.
In 2023, South Africa’s civic space rating was downgraded from “narrowed,” to “obstructed” — the third worst rating a country can have. That’s why Molefe believes creatives like himself have a role to play in highlighting the effects of the failure of basic services such as the power crisis in South Africa.