Nafisa draws. Not for fun but to express; an idea, a feeling, a mood, a pose. Nothing unusual about that. Drawing is storytelling. So what are her tools of expression and what stories, (intentional and unintentional) does Nafisa tell? She uses a range of digital brushes carefully chosen to afford her the precision of texture, line, colour, light and shadow, required of these highly stylised representations. Silhouettes and detail vie for attention. Expressive fabrics laden with pleats, folds, creases, frills, flounces have an equal say in the production of these vivid yet delicately haunting images.
The figure drawing narrative in fashion is often rooted in how one sees oneself. This is so in Nafisa’s representations. Her drawings started off as garments for herself and over time have evolved into figures of expression, which oft-times never proceed beyond the sketch. Notwithstanding, there is still a strong connection between the creator and the creations. It is her single, isolated, exaggerated Nubian figures, aloof and with a sense of detachment, within refined or blank settings that offer us more clues than the fine garments they wear ever could.
These drawings are expressive of privilege yet containment. Their rigid poses even the insouciant ones indicate order and conformity in situations of plenty. Some are faceless, a fashion device to make us focus on the clothes, but here the reverse is true. Instead, we look at them inquisitively and equally, like the Mona Lisa receive no clues in return. There is tension in these drawings, the tension of crisscrossing opposites, the tension of the here, now & where to? It is these attributes that nudge her drawings away from fashion and a bit closer to art.
This is exquisite. The detailing is absolutely intriguing.
Great attention to detail and fantastic works of art.
The conformity of the fashion drawings with culture is extraordinary. Some designs are just meant for the African.
This is so lovely Nafisa. Your art inspires me a lot