Tahira Karim: Willka (Sacred in Quechua)

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Tahira Karim, "Llama Llama," 2016

oil on canvas, 31" x 39“

Opening Reception - June 2, 2017 - 5 to 9 pm

Tahira Karim with support of Artpoint Gallery are thrilled to present “Willka – Sacred in Quechua” an exhibition featuring oil paintings and illustrations exploring and depicting life and sacredness in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Calgary, Alberta, June 2 to June 30 2017.

Envisioned by Tahira Karim, the exhibition explores what defines a culture and what makes it sacred and special in relation to life in the Sacred Valley of Peru and what this means for the people living there.

Tahira states: “Last year when I was teaching and being mentored at the Cusco School of Art, Peru, my focus was in exploring the culture and essence of the Andes in regard to the Quechuan way of life and understanding. What defines a culture and what makes it sacred and special. I explored this through a series of paintings in various styles inspired by a mix of artists and art movements so that each element explored would have a different feel and essence to it. The illustrations show important life rituals of the Quechuan women who live in the Andes, and within historically important and sacred places, in an attempt to highlight their histories and voices.”

Born in 1985 in Calgary, Alberta to immigrant and refugee parents, and exposed to world travel and many cultures, Tahira was intrigued with the ideas of self, history, and culture from a young age. When she was introduced to art, she quickly became entranced with exploring the world through art. She graduated from the Emily Carr University with her BFA in 2008, after which time she dabbled with fashion and interned with Katherine Soucie of Sans Soucie Designs. She then became a teacher, focusing on patterns in math and science, and exploring of history and art with her students. Pulled back into the art world in 2016, Tahira went to Peru where she worked with children in the Andes within the realm of communication and visual symbols. She then taught at the National Arts Institute of Cusco where she was mentored by Richard Peralta.

This exhibition is presented by Artpoint Gallery of Calgary, AB, with a mission of exposing new and emerging artists, collaborative art exhibits, and enhanced cultural awareness.