Details
| First Name | Syeda Rabia |
| Last Name | Khalid |
| Nickname | bint-e-toorab |
My Ceramics
| In the studio I like to do | Handbuilding, Throwing on the Wheel |
| Pottery Wheel | Electric |
| Clay body | Earthenware, Stoneware |
| Clay Brand | Local from my country (Pakistan) |
| Kiln Type | Gas Kiln |
| Temperature | Up to 1200 Celsius |
| Glaze | MOSTLY UNDERGLAZE TECHNIQUE. I use stains for color and then use transparent glaze. Low temperature for red clay pieces and high temperature for white pieces. |
| You can buy my work from | CONTACT ME ON WHATSAPP. |
About Me
| Introduction | Hello My name is Rabia Khalid.I am a professional ceramist and Professor in Design, teaching at the National College of Arts (Pakistan) for many years. I want to experience the interplay of a wide range of Ceramic glazing and textures in my way of expressing the intricate elements from Asian and Islamic architecture on my installations, tiles, and murals and explore a wider perspective in relation to techniques of clay works at different institutions in the west. I am very much interested to join the ceramic residency program. I had experienced amazing ceramic works when I went to Boston (USA) in 2015 and 2016 and delivered lectures on Ceramic invited by Prof Susan Crowell, Filza Walter, and Kristen in School of Art & Design University of Michigan, Lawrence Tech University (Michigan) and Clay School Lynn (Boston). |
| What I Love about Ceramics | Clay work is full of paradoxes. It is one of the technically challenging of art media and yet it is used by children. It is one of the most ancient mediums, made of the stuff of the earth itself, and yet it is also at the forefront of modern materials sciences. Those of us who work in clay follow an ancient tradition in which a great deal is still new, still to be done. (By Susan Peterson) But with all the qualities of soil, clay work is not easy, it needs a lot of patience, it is not immediate, and there are stages of clay that are not easy to control. And the most important is that the finished result is only after the firing which is a very tricky stage to control. It is a story of taking risks, trusting instincts and feelings one needs a lot of patience and control, and only experience in working with clay can bring one to the level where skill can decrease the clay risks, and limitations and can make you visualize your piece in final form before you start making it. |
| How I started with ceramics | Art has diverse mediums, materials, styles, and methods. Clay is one of the hardest, as well as brittle. For me, clay is a teacher. It makes me understand who I am as a human. It makes me understand what I am as a human |
| What inspires me | Working with clay makes me learn about myself, my existence, my reality, and God. When I hold it in my hand despite all the living qualities it has I can twist and turn it into any shape even after firing when it seems and feels so strong I can just push it from the edge and can turn it into nothing……It doesn’t have any standing of its own. Capable of doing all this made me learn the reality that I am a piece of clay in God’s hands and he can twist and turn me into a beautiful piece and despite all the strongness and hardness I have, just a small push from the edge… |
| What I'm working on at the moment | All my city escapes in red clay and stoneware (especially red clay) has intricate details, and very strong design elements and the end result has to be very pleasing to the human eye. Strong old architectural elements with exquisite details of jharokhas, balconies, ornately carved wooden structures, fortified grand walls which must have guarded the life inside once and all such locked faded gates always provoke me to imagine the mysteries lived behind these doors. |
| My Artist Statement | ARTIST STATEMENT CLAY IS MY TEACHER. By Syeda Rabia Khalid.
My best name as ceramist given to me was BIN-TE-TOORAB. The moment I got to know the meaning of this word I felt ….yes… this is what I am …daughter of soil (BIN_TE_TOORAB). A creative and dedicated art educator, I have had extensive experience teaching both theory and practical courses. From setting up a Ceramics department and teaching Ceramics to supervising thesis students – a love of teaching has been my motivation throughout, and I have enjoyed teaching at a number of institutions in Pakistan and abroad. To grow and develop as an artist, I believe it is key to work in different fields and mediums – we must learn to consciously unfold the transforming experiences of mediums that are out of our comfort zone. I chose textile for that, moving from clay and paints to textile, to unfold the work of art in handmade cloth and traditional embroideries (especially which are erasing ) of Pakistan. One of my product was selected for the World Crafts Council competition held in Chennai, India, in 2018. Exploring different mediums is like using a different lens to find new, hidden innovations and expressions. During the past 24 years, I have continued to shift my lens to experience art transformations in ceramics, textiles and also as a writer. My areas of expertise are Ceramics, theory subjects in Art Education, Interior Design, Drawing, traditional embroidery products, and Sports. Clay medium is the most technically challenging art media and yet can be easily used by children. One of the most ancient medium, yet it is also at the forefront of modern materials sciences. We all who are clay artist are actually following the ancient traditions in which a great deal is still new, still to be explore. Clay is a story of taking risks, trusting instincts and feelings, one needs a lot of patience and control and only experience in working with clay can bring one to the level where skill can decrease the clay risks, limitations and can make you visualize your piece in final form before you start making it. For me CLAY IS A TEACHER. It makes me understand who I am as human. It makes me understand what I am as a human. Clay took me to the path where I can understand and relate to our Sufi scholar’s poetries : Clay such a powerful and challenging material, but is so brittle at the same time, just like humans are. Despite the hardness of clay it is soft and sensuous which can take any shape, just like humans are. Clay is resistant and pliable at the same time, just like humans are. The natural world is always the source of inspiration for me, but my inspiration goes beyond translating the visual world. We all have formal, informal, intended and coincidental, narrowly practical and broadly applicable experiences in life which we transform in our own mediums as an artist. When I hold it in my hands despite all the living qualities it has, I can twist and turn it into any shape even after firing when it seems and feels so strong I can just push it from the edge and can turn it into nothing……It doesn’t have any standing of its own. Doing all this made me learn the reality that I am a piece of clay ,a vessel in God’s hands and he can twist and turn me into beautiful piece and despite all the strongness and hardness I have, just a small push from the edge…..I AM NOTHING. Since my childhood I was a very energetic and creative person, school days were totally attached with sports and athletics. These two qualities are very helpful if you want to be a ceramist but the best triangle is… creative, energetic and patience. Patience…. the third angle was taught to me by CLAY. As I was and I am always a dreamer, interested in Mother Nature’s precious treasures, fairy tales, intricate details, perfection in work to limits. Even as a student I was the one who always wanted to explore the material limits, wanted to do the undoable. Always felt I have wings and I can fly. All my city escapes in red clay and stone ware (especially red clay) has intricate details, very strong design elements and end result has to be very pleasing to human eye. Strong old architectural elements with exquisite details of jharoka’s,balconies ,ornately carved wooden structures, fortified grand walls which must have guarded the life inside once and all such locked faded gates always provoke me to imagine the mysteries lived behind these doors. Even years pass and leave new traces and architectural lines on the old ones, but old architecture wouldn’t seem out of place to me. This world which has thousand yesterdays, whenever I look at them I feel touched by their grace and charm. And always feel ….what if these faded doors and cracks could talk….. My ceramic work can be viewed as a work which circles around two important aspects of human life: language and architecture. I am more interested to use haroof (alphabets) in a design composition rather than a word ,maybe that satisfy the interest I have in natures precious mysteries. I love to work in red clay it is more near to my heart but the role of color in ceramics and decorative art has prime importance. To me underwater world has the strongest fascination of colors. It amazed me whenever I see a documentary or any other reference of this world. I still have this deep inside urge to be part of this world. My color attraction in ceramic came from this world I have a strong recline towards realism, but part of my personality believes in the strength of abstraction based on strong concepts. |
| My CV | RABIA KHALID Apartment # 6-D Building 39 Sector B, Askari Eleven Bedian Road Lahore, Pakistan. PH: +92 323 5305634, +92 321 9486634 Email:srabiabashir@gmail.com Address·Phone Email·LinkedIn Profile·Twitter/Blog/Portfolio SUMMARY
A creative and dedicated art educator,I have had extensive experience teaching both theory and practical courses. From setting up a Ceramics department and teaching Ceramics to supervise thesis students – a love of teaching has been my motivation throughout, and I have enjoyed teaching at a number of institutions in Pakistan and abroad. To grow and develop as an artist, I believe it is key to work in different fields and mediums – we must learn to consciously unfold the transforming experiences of mediums that are out of our comfort zone. I chose textile for that, moving from clay and paints to cloth, to unfold the work of art in handmade cloth and traditional embroideries of Pakistan. A key highlight for me was the opportunity to manage women’s development programs at Sabah Pakistan (an NGO under the SAARC program), designing multiple fashions and home accessories with a focus on preserving the traditional techniques of Pakistani artisans. One of my products was selected for the World Crafts Council competition held in Chennai, India, in 2018.
Exploring different mediums is likeusing a different lens to find new, hidden innovations and expressions. Duringthepast 24 years, I have continued to shift my lens to experience art transformations, demonstrating my creative abilities as a freelance graphic design consultant in the private sector and in many interior design projects at a national level. (Detailed list available upon request.) I experimented with jewelry design as welland took part in an exhibition held by the World Gold Council, in 1998.
Finally, I am also a writer, publishing articles in DS (Designer’s Style) magazine. My areas of expertise are Ceramics, teaching theory subjects in Art Education, Interior Design, Drawing, traditional embroidery products, and Sports.
Education 2018 Beacon House National University, Lahore (Pakistan) Thesis on the Influence of contemporary pedagogical strategies of art institutes inPakistan. 1988 Bachelor of Design National College of Arts, Lahore (Pakistan) Bachelor’s in Graphic Design (1988), and AdvancedCeramics course (1999).
Diplomas · The Jewelry Design contest, World Gold Council (1998) · Theatre Workshop at the American Center, Islamabad(1991) · Teacher Training Workshop at Beacon House School System by British Council Islamabad (1989) Experience may 2019to DATE Teaching with internationally renowned Pakistani Ceramist SheherezadeAlam in her ceramic studio classes for all ages.
Feb 2018 – feb 2019 A business association for home-based women workers,to develop and preserve the traditional techniques of Pakistani artisans, creating and executing projects for women’s empowerment, such as First Women Café, Stitching Unit, SABAH products, and Research& Design center for all the working members across Pakistan.
Aug 2017 – feb 2018 Designer in the Gender Empowerment and Social Advocacydepartment, setting up the production unit and designingKashf products.
OCT 2016 – DEC 2016 Guest speaker at Michigan University, Lawrence Tech University, and Clay School Boston, USA.
2015 – 2016 Taught at the National College of Arts, Rawalpindi Campus, in the Design department. Engaged in teaching theory and practical subjects from first year to fourth year: History & Heritage,Visual Arts, Art Appreciation, History of South Asian Design, Studio courses such as Drawing for Designer, FreeHand Perspective Drawing.
2010 – 2016 Thesis Advisor,Fatimah Jinnah Women’s University, Rawalpindi. Supervised thesis of Graduate and MA Students of Ceramic and Graphic Design department, as an external advisor.
2010 – 2012 Supervised the thesis of Design students.
2008 – 2012 Engaged in setting up the Ceramics department and teaching Ceramics. Supervised thesis student in 2011. I also taught theory in the following subjects: History & Heritage, Art Appreciation, and History of South Asian Design.
Jan 2006– Dec 2006 Was on contract and taught in the Design department.
2002 – 2006 VISITING FACULTY,National College of Arts, Lahore. Teaching fourth-year Design Studio, Thesis students and Foundation Course students, the subject of Drafting and History & Heritage of Pakistan.
2001 – 2002 Design Consultant,SUNGI Islamabad. In charge of the crafts section and conducted workshops to train field coordinators and quality control, staff.
2000 – 2001 In charge of the crafts section, I engaged in setting up commercial stitching unit and conducted workshops to train field coordinators and quality control, staff.
1999 Art Instructor,International College Spain. Teaching Drawing, Design, and Photography to “O” level students. Conducting Art Workshops especially for children at different places.
1991 – 1998 Instructor,HUNERKADA. Teaching at HUNERKADA Academy of Visual & Performing Arts, Islamabad, the subject of Graphic Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Ceramics, History of Arts and Drafting. I also worked as an Administrator.
1990 – 1991 Art Teacher,Beacon house School Islamabad. Art teacher for Grades 5 and 6.
1987 – 1988 Designer,Paragon Advertising (PVT) Ltd.(Lahore). Worked as the creative and visual designer for the publicity section.
Skills · Writing skills · Ceramic workshops(for all ages) · Drama and stage performance · Sports
EXHIBITIONS Exhibited my work at (PNCA) Pakistan national council of arts Islamabad. Exhibited my Ceramic work in different group shows in Islamabad. (Details available upon request)
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