Zarina's Exploration of Home and Exile Through Minimalist Art

In the spring of 2020, Zarina, an Indian artist residing in New York, passed away. Her artistic expressions delved into themes of home, exile, and displacement, utilizing woodcuts, sculptures, drawings, and writings. Originally from India, she pursued mathematics in Aligarh before her marriage to a diplomat, which enabled her extensive travels. The Partition of 1947 compelled her family to relocate to Pakistan. Notable pieces include 'Homes I Made, a Life in Nine Lines' (1997), 'Cities I Called Home' (2010), 'Letters from Home' (2004), 'My Dark House at Aligarh' (2017), and 'Home is a Foreign Place' (1999). Incorporating Urdu and Islamic influences, Zarina preferred working with paper. As one of the few female modern Indian artists, her work remains poignant during the COVID-19 pandemic and amidst India's ongoing struggles.