Parramatta studio International
Adeel Uz Zafar
The Parramatta Artists’ Studios residency program featured international artists Abdullah Syed and Adeel-uz-Zafar—both originating from Karachi, Pakistan—as part of the Pakistan / Australian Arts Program and the 19th International Symposium of Electronic Arts (ISEA) 2013. This residency highlighted how diasporic and international artists navigate cultural dislocation, personal history, and the intersection of their home country’s traditions with new global contexts .
Abdullah Syed’s multi-disciplinary practice explores ideas of masculinity, utilizing unique elements such as the word “brut”—combining references to cologne, masculinity, and Pakistani culture—alongside sculptures and drawings. Concurrently, Adeel-uz-Zafar creates intricate, highly detailed observational drawings by scratching into plastic vinyl surfaces. His works feature characters adapted from stuffed toys collected from various free markets around Karachi, wrapped in gauze and bandages to explore themes of childhood, repression, and vulnerability.
Selected Panel and Student Commentary on the Artwork
“We definitely felt the truth in the art works by Adeel. Although he is making a statement on repression and loss of childhood, his works are highly skilled and beautiful in their detail.” — Melissa Mary McElhone
“My heart was really shocked by last week’s speeches and Adeel-uz-Zafar’s artworks. I feel that what they are doing now just prove that, wherever they live, whatever they do, the people, the staff, the environment and the experience in their home country are the original inspiration of their creations.” — Xuan Li
“The topic about Parramatta artists studio was quite interesting, and the work of Adeel-uz-Zafar is so inspiriting… The cross culture encourages me to combine two different arts background.” — Wen Jia Zhang
Artist At Work
COFA Talk
