An Illustration of a blurred memory of people from the past.

The Conversation

Woodcut Print on Archival Paper, 36" x 24"

Bismah Hayat

Belonging to a small village located in obscure South Pakistan, and then eventually settling in
the megalopolis that Lahore is; I found myself in a state of confusion as adjusting to life in the
big city made me question my own identity as I grew up. This sudden transition affected the way
I perceived life at a young age because of the violence in the city. As a seven-year-old, the tales
of horror which happened in the street next to mine left me in a constant state of fear. It
traumatizes me to this day and has effectively shaped me into becoming the person I am today. I
would often run short of words to communicate how I felt. I was always the quiet kid,
daydreaming about the possibilities of escape and creating scenarios of the peaceful village life
that I left at the age of seven. Filling this vague dream with colours is the driving force behind
my work, which is how I want to tell my story.
As I started my creative journey, I felt comfortable using this mode of communication to express
how I felt. Transferring my dreams onto a piece of paper gave me the peace of mind I never had
before. Self-expression through art channeled my thoughts and ideas to come out in a creative
yet subjective way, and I hope I can enable others to relate it to their own similar experiences.
Through my work, I don’t just want to tell my story, rather I want to evoke emotions and feelings
that have been drawn from my dreams and personal experiences.
Most of my work revolves around the themes of isolation, solitary, fear, and mystery. The
unfinished dream – which has been with me since the beginning – guides my creativity. My new
series has evolved into experiences which humans share under the stress of terror and violence. I
intend to further draw upon this new experience through my work.