Paintings by Rida Zahra
Maahal II
Rida Zahra is a visual artist from Lahore, Pakistan, with roots in Gul Da Kot, a small village in Punjab. Her work primarily explores the emotional and philosophical dimensions of human dwelling, with a focus on how memory, identity, and time shape our connection to spaces. Through painting, she embeds photo transfers of archival images into her work, mirroring the way memories are interwoven with the objects and places we inhabit. Expanding her practice, she also employs projection mapping and sound to create immersive experiences that invite viewers to reflect on the meaning of belonging. A graduate with distinction from Beaconhouse National University, Rida is currently pursuing an MFA at the Royal College of Art in London. Her experience of migration, particularly as an international student, has inspired her to explore the emotional and conceptual weight of transitioning between homes.
Maahal I
Through her work, Rida invites viewers to reflect on migration, memory, and belonging. She examines how spaces and objects become carriers of personal stories, shaping our identities and connecting us to the places we come from and the ones we grow into.
Singhaar
In Baggage Allowance, she uses the metaphor of a luggage scan to reflect on the visible and invisible aspects of migration. Everyday objects, depicted through x-ray imagery, are embedded with photo transfers of archival photographs, transforming them into vessels of memory. The work evokes questions about the objects and histories we carry with us, drawing attention to the quiet, overlooked realities of crossing borders and the emotional stories tied to the act of moving.
Baggage Allowance
In Between two shelves, Rida juxtaposes two kitchen shelves: one inspired by her current home in London and the other from her childhood in Gul Da Kot. These shelves act as symbolic repositories of memory and identity, representing the blending of past and present. The work explores the fragmented sense of belonging felt by individuals who navigate life across different places, highlighting the complex interplay between memory and geography. By presenting these contrasting yet connected spaces, Rida reflects on the emotional layers of migration and the multifaceted nature of home.
Between two shelves
