Shahzia Sikander's 'Stalemate' Exhibition at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. Explores Identity and Politics

Shahzia Sikander presented her exhibition 'Stalemate' at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. in New York City from April 3 to May 2, 2009. The show featured works including the video 'Observation Post' (2009), which depicts an older black man playing 'The Star Spangled Banner' on harmonica against a decaying building backdrop, addressing America's racial legacy. Sikander's drawings and paintings, such as the series 'Mapping the End of Something,' explore themes of displacement, psychic loss, and the experiences of the dispossessed. Specific works like 'Power of Silence' (graphite, ink, gouache) and 'Blood Lines' (2009) use musical and abstract imagery to comment on personal and political complexities. 'Garden for an Interpretation Center' (2009) blends Sikander's training in Pakistani miniature painting with Western abstract influences. The large-scale 'Template for Stalemate' (2009) showcases vibrant colors and decorative motifs. Born in Lahore, Pakistan in 1969, Sikander has lived in New York City, reflecting on divided affiliations and universal political distress in her art. The exhibition was located at 530 West 22nd Street, between 10th and 11th avenues, with contact number 212 929 2262.