He Asked About the Quality

Areez Katki

All images by and courtesy the artist.

Areez Katki’s practice explores queer terrains through processes that include writing, embroidery, weaving, painting and printmaking. Born into a migrant Parsi (Zoroastrian) family, Areez is based between Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand and his birthplace of Mumbai, India. His work addresses the constructs of spirituality, postcolonial identity and sexuality, while simultaneously raising questions around social hegemonies—through hybrid forms in his material-based art practice, which illuminate the oblique, unfixed, positionings of [our] bodies.

1. Areez Katki. In Small Places, 2018.

In Small Places (Farrokh & Sohrab), 2018. Cotton thread embroidery on hand-loomed tea towel. 480mm x 405mm.

Exhibition history: ‘Bildungsroman’ [Touring 2019-2020: Malcolm Smith Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Refinery Artspace, Whākatu Nelson, The Otago Museum, Ōtepoti Dunedin], ‘History Reserves But a Few Lines for You’ [Enjoy Contemporary Art Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, 2021], ‘Bildungsroman (& Other Stories)’ [Tarq Gallery, Mumbai, India, 2021].

Collection of the Artist.

2. Areez Katki. Dwelling, 2017.

Dwelling, 2017. Cotton thread embroidery on upholstered silk. 1130mm x 1690mm x 125mm.

Exhibition history: ‘Marabar Caves’ [The Gus Fisher Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, 2017], ‘Softly Spoken’ [Hastings City Art Gallery, Heretaunga Hastings, 2019], ‘History Reserves But a Few Lines for You’ [Enjoy Contemporary Art Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, 2021], ‘Mānawatia Takatāpui / Defending Plurality’ [Tauranga Art Gallery, Tauranga, 2021].

Collection of the Artist.

3. Areez Katki. Drapery, 2019.

Drapery, 2019. Cotton and silk embroidery on linen/cellulose textile. 2500mm x 3000m.

Exhibition history: ‘Come, Remember’ [Window Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, 2019]. ‘History Reserves But a Few Lines for You’ [Enjoy Contemporary Art Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, 2021], ‘Mānawatia Takatāpui / Defending Plurality’ [Tauranga Art Gallery, Tauranga, 2021].

Collection of the Artist.

4. Areez Katki. Trojan, 2021.

Trojan, 2021. Cotton thread embroidery on muslin handkerchief. 255mm x 250mm.

Exhibition history: ‘History Reserves But a Few Lines for You’ [Enjoy Contemporary Art Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, 2021].

Collection: Wellington City Council.

5. Areez Katki. Telemachus, 2021.

Telemachus, 2021. Cotton thread embroidery on muslin handkerchief. 260mm x 250mm.

Exhibition history: ‘History Reserves But a Few Lines for You’ [Enjoy Contemporary Art Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, 2021].

Collection: Wellington City Council.

6. Areez Katki. Ionic, 2021.

Ionic, 2021. Cotton thread embroidery on muslin handkerchief. 235mm x 225mm.

Exhibition history: ‘History Reserves But a Few Lines for You’ [Enjoy Contemporary Art Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, 2021]. ‘A Link, A Loop, A Circle’ [Granville City Art Gallery, Sydney, 2021].

Collection of the Artist.

8. Areez Katki. For Thirty Thousand Years (panel i), 2019. [Tim Melville Gallery]

For Thirty Thousand Years [panel i of iii], 2019. Cotton embroidery over silk-cotton khadi. 950mm x 900mm.

Exhibition History: ‘Nectar’ [Mangere Arts Centre Tāmaki Makaurau, 2019], ‘Notes & Methods’ [Tim Melville Gallery, 2020].

Private Collection.

9. Areez Katki. August (after Novelli’s poetry reading tour), 2019. [Bowerbank Ninow]

August (after Novelli’s Poetry Reading Tour), 2019. Cotton hand embroidery on khadi handkerchief. 450mm x 450mm.

Exhibition history: ‘Some Retained Delights’ [RM Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, 2019], ‘Hot Mess’ [Bowerbank Ninow, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland 2019].

Private Collection.

11. Areez Katki. Sympathetic Qualities, 2020. [Sumer Contemporary]

Sympathetic Qualities, 2020. Cotton hand embroidery on handwoven ikat cloth. 300mm x 300mm.

Exhibition history: ‘On Chroma’ [Sumer Contemporary, Tauranga].

Private Collection.

Areez Katki is currently represented by Tim Melville Gallery in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa and Tarq Gallery in Mumbai, India.

Recent projects include: Bildungsroman (& Other Stories), Tarq Gallery Mumbai (India), 2021;  Mānawatia Takatāpui / Defending Plurality (group), Tauranga Art Gallery (Aotearoa), 2021; Like Birds, Life Fishes,  Tim Melville Gallery (Aotearoa) , 2021; History Reserves But A Few Lines For You, Enjoy Contemporary Art Gallery (Aotearoa), 2021;  Thieves’ Market, The National (Aotearoa), 2021; On Chroma, Sumer Gallery (Aotearoa), 2020; Notes & Methods, Tim Melville Gallery (Aotearoa), 2020; Even the birds are walking, Latitude 53 (group, Edmonton, Canada), 2020; Some Retained Delights, RM Gallery (Aotearoa), 2019; Uncruising (culmination after an artist residency), Phoenix Gallery (Athens, Greece), 2019; Come, Remember (with Ophelia King), Window Gallery (Aotearoa), 2019; Making Conversation (group), The Dowse Museum (Aotearoa), 2019; Bildungsroman, Malcolm Smith Gallery and the Otago Museum (Aotearoa), 2019-20; Marabar Caves (group), The Gus Fisher Gallery (Aotearoa), 2017.