R. M. Naeem

Artist Satement
I found a particularly useful statement by Naeem published by the Karachi Biennale. His philosophy is essentially that he doesn’t want to simply reproduce violence, political conflict and social problems in his paintings. Instead, he deliberately creates an opposite vision—peace, love, hope and harmony.

His work therefore often deals with human relationships, spirituality, peace, love, hope, social issues, memory and the psychological condition of people. His 2017 work Connection, for example, explored the relationship between siblings and the tension between age, authority, equality and love.

His later work has also engaged with historical and socio-political subjects, including the trauma and memory surrounding the 1971 separation of Bangladesh.

There is also a strong spiritual dimension to some of his practice. A Dawn review of his 2019 exhibition described his work as exploring social, religious and spiritual themes, while noting his distinctive treatment of the human figure.

Biography
Born: 20 August 1968, Mirpurkhas, Sindh, Pakistan
Lives and works: Lahore
Education: BFA in Fine Arts, National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, 1993, with distinction.
He joined NCA as a teacher after graduation and has been associated with the institution for decades; he became an Associate of NCA in 2019.
He has held 20+ solo exhibitions and participated in major international exhibitions, biennales and art fairs in countries including Bangladesh, Iran, South Korea, France, Singapore, India, China, UAE, UK and USA.
He founded Studio RM, which has supported young artists through education, workshops and an international residency programme.
His awards include the National Award of Excellence (2003) and, more recently, the President’s Pride of Performance (2023).
Interestingly, his artistic journey began quite humbly: as a young boy in Mirpurkhas he worked painting truck art, cinema boards and shop signboards to help fund his education.