March 2019
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION
ZAKRIYA RABANI
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION
ZAKRIYA RABANI
Artist Statement
My objective is to research my ideas, passions, issues, desires, and go beyond the
object of desire. What is seen and can be interpreted is partially shaped by individual
experience. This is something that I have materialized through school, understanding
that the scopes of perspective are infinite.
The work I make can be seen as elementary, (in a post-minimal way) and unusual yet
familiar. Adopting everyday objects and simple materials, I am thinking about
formalism within my work and the ability to transport the mind into faded traditions, to
bring old memories to light as well as feel experiences that have long past. Attracted
to process and the will that comes from my artistic self, I am compelled to unfurl my
ideas through the use of uncomplicated form, matter and materials.
I use logic, tools, artifacts, toys, and instruments that can be found within a cultural or
political structure not because of their content and totality, not to mock academia or
to rebel but to use artistic research to analyze the decisions that have allowed certain
people to create, the ideology that we have allowed to be in place.
I wish to disrupt the common deconstruction procedure; and re-activate the senses,
rewrite, with pure force and pure action. What I represent is consumed and fueled by
this raw passion of challenging not only the institutional system but the complexities
of man. Being within some sort of institution, like a school, for the majority of my life, I have
always been looking for new ways to equip myself, for the likely chance that I can
break free from the structures that have always determined and directed my
existence.
My objective is to research my ideas, passions, issues, desires, and go beyond the
object of desire. What is seen and can be interpreted is partially shaped by individual
experience. This is something that I have materialized through school, understanding
that the scopes of perspective are infinite.
The work I make can be seen as elementary, (in a post-minimal way) and unusual yet
familiar. Adopting everyday objects and simple materials, I am thinking about
formalism within my work and the ability to transport the mind into faded traditions, to
bring old memories to light as well as feel experiences that have long past. Attracted
to process and the will that comes from my artistic self, I am compelled to unfurl my
ideas through the use of uncomplicated form, matter and materials.
I use logic, tools, artifacts, toys, and instruments that can be found within a cultural or
political structure not because of their content and totality, not to mock academia or
to rebel but to use artistic research to analyze the decisions that have allowed certain
people to create, the ideology that we have allowed to be in place.
I wish to disrupt the common deconstruction procedure; and re-activate the senses,
rewrite, with pure force and pure action. What I represent is consumed and fueled by
this raw passion of challenging not only the institutional system but the complexities
of man. Being within some sort of institution, like a school, for the majority of my life, I have
always been looking for new ways to equip myself, for the likely chance that I can
break free from the structures that have always determined and directed my
existence.
Zakriya Rabani is a first generation human. Given a different last name than both of his parents he has grown as a Southwest Floridian with a misunderstanding of who he is. His influences consist of the relentless repetitive nature of the blue-green crashing waves, the push for strategic explosions of energy in the world of sport and competition, as well as an obsession of contending with present-day educational/institutional structures; whose systems have deeply effected his process for thinking. Rabani challenges the perception of structures, systems, patterns of man by using his own absurd experiences that manifest a code to fuel his artistic practice.
Exhibited in galleries, museums, and parks all throughout Florida, Georgia and New York,
Rabani built his own version of a classroom, “Decks n’ Desks: A lesson in Flow” for a solo
show in Gainesville, FL which led to the selection of the Atlantic Center of the “Arts 26th
Annual University Student Exhibition” curated by Luis Gispert in New Smyrna Beach, FL,
Rabani one of three selected from all universities in the state of Florida. Freeride Surf Shop
in Gainesville, Fl sponsored an exclusive promo performance video for an outrageously
sized skateboard that was part of Rabani’s Deck Series. Rabani has public work installed at
Tattnall Square Park, Macon, Ga for their “Art in The Park Exhibition” and The Museum of
Arts and Sciences Macon, Ga for their “Augmented” exhibition curated by Craig Coleman.
Of recent note, Rabani has published his book, Divine Decks, Tampa, which is part of a
long-term work he plans to establish around the United States.
By the age of 24, Zakriya Rabani achieved national rankings in both the sports of Tennis
and Beach Volleyball, MFA from the University of South Florida and a BFA from the
University of Florida. Founder of two separate collegiate beach volleyball organizations
Rabani has extreme amounts of passion, mysteries of his Middle Eastern heritage, while
always having a love for sharing information and experiences through storytelling and
teaching.
Exhibited in galleries, museums, and parks all throughout Florida, Georgia and New York,
Rabani built his own version of a classroom, “Decks n’ Desks: A lesson in Flow” for a solo
show in Gainesville, FL which led to the selection of the Atlantic Center of the “Arts 26th
Annual University Student Exhibition” curated by Luis Gispert in New Smyrna Beach, FL,
Rabani one of three selected from all universities in the state of Florida. Freeride Surf Shop
in Gainesville, Fl sponsored an exclusive promo performance video for an outrageously
sized skateboard that was part of Rabani’s Deck Series. Rabani has public work installed at
Tattnall Square Park, Macon, Ga for their “Art in The Park Exhibition” and The Museum of
Arts and Sciences Macon, Ga for their “Augmented” exhibition curated by Craig Coleman.
Of recent note, Rabani has published his book, Divine Decks, Tampa, which is part of a
long-term work he plans to establish around the United States.
By the age of 24, Zakriya Rabani achieved national rankings in both the sports of Tennis
and Beach Volleyball, MFA from the University of South Florida and a BFA from the
University of Florida. Founder of two separate collegiate beach volleyball organizations
Rabani has extreme amounts of passion, mysteries of his Middle Eastern heritage, while
always having a love for sharing information and experiences through storytelling and
teaching.
For inquiries contact the artists directly:
1499 Grey Fox Run
Tallahassee, FL 32311
Cell: 239.537.9643
rabani.arist@gmail.com
zakriyarabani.com
1499 Grey Fox Run
Tallahassee, FL 32311
Cell: 239.537.9643
rabani.arist@gmail.com
zakriyarabani.com