Where Asian artistry defines its legacy

Asian art derives its distinction from a profound interplay of philosophy, materiality, and regional heritage—transforming medium and technique into a unique visual language that carries the depth of its origins.

Artists of Daira

The artists featured here represent the heart of Daira.

Each one has been carefully selected for the originality of their voice, the strength of their work, and the depth of their creativity.

We invite you to explore their profiles, learn about their stories, and discover the diverse range of perspectives emerging from Pakistan’s contemporary art community.

We engage with artists across Asia through a curatorial partnership built on deep cultural immersion and scholarly dialogue. Many of these artists operate within rich, region-specific contexts that are underrepresented in the global canon, offering profound depth for those who look beyond the surface. We are committed to unveiling these layered stories, presenting not only the artwork but also the intellectual and cultural substance that makes each creation a discovery.

Red Pollution

£0.00

Emil Fais

Ballpoint pen and red onion skin on canvas

2025

50 x 60 cm; 19.7 x 23.6 in

Price: POA

This work reflects my anxiety regarding the face of the Earth, which grows redder by the day from its wounds. Through Red Pollution, I visualize how nature, damaged by illegal logging, leaves behind a permanent mark—just like the red color dominating the background of this canvas.

During the process, I collected garlic skin waste from kitchen leftovers. I washed these thoroughly before arranging and pasting them one by one onto the canvas, building a thick, layered texture. For me, this process was a ritual to give "new value" to something considered trash. The garlic peels symbolize something discarded and valueless, much like how we often treat the remnants of nature around us. The rough texture that emerges becomes a physical representation of the Earth's peeling, inflamed "skin."

Amidst that chaotic red, there is a circular space rendered in detailed ballpoint pen. That is where what remains of hope resides—a single green tree still standing tall, despite now being isolated. The figure in this painting represents all of us: silent witnesses whose bodies are beginning to be eroded by pollution, yet who still hold the memory of a green future. This work is a reminder that the few trees left today are the final treasure we must protect for the breath of future generations.

Original texts from artists (Bahasa Indonesia)

Karya ini adalah kegelisahan saya terhadap wajah bumi yang kian hari kian memerah karena luka. Melalui 'Red Pollution', saya memvisualisasikan bagaimana alam yang rusak akibat penebangan liar meninggalkan jejak permanen—seperti warna merah yang mendominasi latar belakang kanvas ini.

Dalam prosesnya, saya mengumpulkan limbah kulit bawang putih dari sisa aktivitas dapur. Limbah ini saya cuci bersih sebelum akhirnya saya susun dan tempelkan satu per satu di atas kanvas hingga membangun tekstur yang tebal dan berlapis. Bagi saya, proses ini adalah sebuah ritual untuk memberikan 'nilai baru' pada sesuatu yang dianggap sampah. Kulit bawang putih menjadi simbol sesuatu yang terbuang dan tak berharga, sama halnya dengan bagaimana seringkali kita memperlakukan sisa-sisa alam di sekitar kita. Tekstur kasar yang tercipta menjadi representasi fisik dari 'kulit bumi' yang mengelupas dan meradang.

Di tengah kekacauan warna merah tersebut, terdapat sebuah ruang melingkar yang saya kerjakan dengan detail ballpoint. Di sanalah sisa harapan itu berada—sebatang pohon hijau yang masih tegak, meski kini ia terisolasi. Figur dalam lukisan ini merepresentasikan kita semua; saksi bisu yang tubuhnya mulai tergerus oleh polusi, namun masih menyimpan memori tentang hijaunya masa depan. Karya ini adalah pengingat bahwa sisa pohon yang ada sekarang adalah harta terakhir yang harus kita jaga demi nafas generasi mendatang.