Shiraz Bayjoo’s works explore a common ground that lies between the autonomy in art through abstraction, and the emotive icons of fracturing cultural and religious identities.
Using multiple layers of translucent patterns and marks, a loose abstract landscape is presented. Whilst grounded and objectified within abstract composition, the spaces are dense and allow a sense of the mystical. Using restrained contrasts in colour, layers of iridescent and lucid paint unfold across the works.
Islamic motifs are used in the larger paintings creating a loose veil across the background, in contrast to the more graphic and stark representation within the light box installations, where the patterns are more prominent and open themselves up to a more literal translation.
The circles and dots are found reoccurring through much of the works, representing unified, un-manipulated icons, complete in their design, and suggesting something of the universal or otherworldly. Larger figurative brush marks provide dynamism and direction to the works, breaking up the space, whilst drawing the often-subtle layers of colour and surface together.
Patterns and icons are employed as part of a larger exploration of personal and collective identity. Images are broken down and re explored, offering what is often culturally or politically emotive back to the viewer a composition that is subtle and removed from its literal context. Whilst still emotionally charged and lending it self as a Universal experience.
