A one person show displaying the works of Razin Rubin was held at Chawkandi Art Gallery in Karachi.
The artist work focuses on the exploration of memory, family history and the transformative nature of time. “I recreate photographs from my family archives and revert to the moments that have passed. I not only draw the people in the photographs but also portray their stories, and experiences that shaped our family. The gestures, the laughter, and the quiet exchanges that are portrayed in my work are lost to time. They belong to a different era, to people who have since changed. Their bodies have aged, and some are no longer with us. My work emphasizes this fragility, the way life moves forward even as we try to hold on to the past. “
The objects portrayed in his work such as furniture, clothing, familiar spaces act as tangible reminders of how things used to be before. They are symbolic of continuity, memories passed down from one generation to the next. “ Many of these items are still in the possession of my family, held in remembrance of those we’ve lost. In recreating these photographs, I strive to balance the preservation of material things with the understanding that the essence of the past, lived moments can never be fully restored. My work goes beyond simply replicating images; it is about engaging with time, and remembering while acknowledging the imperfections and incompleteness of memory itself.”
His colour palette is monochromatic, unsurprising since these are memories that he is recreating. The black and white artwork adds to the aura to nostalgia and times gone by.
His attention to detail, intricate line work and focus on capturing even the unnoticed nuances allows his work to stand out and make a statement. Solomon in the Woods, Graphite and charcoal on 300 gsm archival paper, 5 x 6.8 inches, 2024
Man with the Tree, Graphite and charcoal on 300 gsm archival paper, 14 x 10 inches, 2024
My Brother and I - I, Graphite and charcoal on 150gsm archival paper, 20.5 x 28.2 inches, 2024
Christmas 1947, Graphite and charcoal on 300 gsm archival paper, 34.7 x 58 inches, 2024
Chair and Tricycle, Graphite and charcoal on 300 gsm archival paper, 6.3 x 4.5 inches, 2024