Talha Shams

MFA Painting

چھپن چھپائی (Chupan Chupai)

My work emerges from the tension between concealment and revelation. Growing up in a conservative Muslim family in Pakistan, I learned at a very early age to hide feelings, emotions, and desires. Censorship imposed from the outside world became internalized. Within this space of restraint, a desire to breathe, to peek out, to momentarily exist as myself became urgent.

I work through painting, printmaking, sculpture, and installation, using etching ink as my primary medium. The recurring motif in my work is a streak that expresses resistance and fluidity simultaneously. Repetition turns this gesture into a ritual that shapes my visual language. Each gesture resists control while embracing uncertainty. No two pulls are ever the same, allowing space for imperfection, beauty, and unpredictability. Experiments, accidents, and curiosity make my studio a place where freedom is possible, even as the world outside continues to demand conformity.