The bed of Roses

Raza is a visual artist currently based in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his BFA from the Punjab University College of Art and Design, Lahore in 2004. Raza then went on to pursue and complete his MFA from the Punjab University College of Art and Design, Lahore in 2015. Through his art practice Raza reinterprets the existing concepts of regions, religions, cultures, politics, histories and traditions of South Asia, by using diverse mediums like drawing, painting, sculpture, installation and photography. His artwork is housed within the permanent collection of the Ambiance Boutique Art Hotels. Raza is currently teaching as an Associate Professor and Head of Department of Fine Arts in the Government College Women University Sialkot, Sialkot. Previously he had been teaching for one and half years at the Women University Swabi, Swabi as an Assistant Professor and Head of Department of Fine Arts, further back he spent Five and half years teaching as a Lecturer in Punjab University College of Art and Design, Lahore. Raza also maintains his own art studio in Sialkot where he invites senior artists and art students for art talks, seminars, workshops and concept development sessions.

In the quiet corners of the human psyche, the fear of death lurks like a shadow. An ever -present specter that dances on the fingers of our consciousness. It is a primal fear, as old as time itself, etched into the very essence of our existence. A lone man, lost in the vast expanse of a desolate landscape, his heart pounding in his chest, not from the fear of a vulture hovers against the canvas of the sky. Its sharp beak and keen eyes are a cruel reminder that in this world, life and death are inextricably intertwined. The world watches, as if it were a grand spectacle, indifferent to the plight of the man bellow. People go about their daily lives, unaware of the symbolic dance of time, monitoring and controlling existence itself. In this moment, it becomes evident that life is fragile balance, a delicate thread held between the fingers of fate. It’s a grim reminder that time is the ultimate arbiter, the one force that monitors and controls life both before and after death. The
theme reflects the artist’s deep understanding of human nature, his vision of divine justice, and his belief in the transformative power of the human the human soul while inviting beholders to contemplate the eternal themes of life, death, uncertainty and the human experience in the context of divine order. The progression reflects the separation of everything from the singular reality, as Dante’s journey symbolizes the soul’s quest for spirituals enlightenment and union with divine. An armless man, with a gentle smile gracing his face, stands beneath a towering apple tree. At his feet lies a fallen apple, its pristine skin marred by the earth’s touch. With a simple gesture, this man becomes a living embodiment of the creation story, a testament to their resilience of the human spirit. Through his presence, he reminds us of that event in the face of adversity, the beauty of creation and the potential for new beginnings persist, casting a timeless spell that captivates all who witness this poignant tableau.