Untitled - Sayed Yaqoot jan

Artist statement: My artistic focus centers on the tragic events that unfolded in
Swat in 2008. I use symbolic elements like pomegranates and chickens in my
paintings to represent human life and blood, respectively, symbolizing the pain
and loss endured by the Swat community during that tumultuous period. The
pomegranate, with its deep red hue and multitude of seeds, symbolizes the
violence's brutality, aiming to evoke the bloodshed and loss experienced by the
people. The chicken represents the Swat people, caught in the conflict and often
used as instruments of war.
Through my use of light and shadow, I aim to convey the darkness and brutality of
the violence. I seek to capture the complexity of emotions felt by the Swat
populace during that period, highlighting their resilience in adversity. My
preferred medium is oil, as that allows me to capture the texture and depth
needed to convey the emotional weight of my subject matter.
My art is an exploration of the human toll of violence and a tribute to the people
of Swat. I hope that through my paintings, I can foster empathy, raise awareness
about the impact of conflict on human lives, and encourage understanding.

Biography: Yaqoot Jan, coming from Najigram in Swat district, graduated with a
distinction in painting from NCA Lahore in 2022.