TheUpsideSpace

A curator-led platform that spotlights artistic expressions from Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Our vision: Curating Endless Possibilities

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Hamid Ali Hanbhi (@hamidhanbhi )is a Pakistani contemporary artist. He is currently working as an artist and an educator in Lahore. Hanbhi studied at The National College of Arts Lahore in Pakistan. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with distinction. He works in various mediums including; drawing, painting, sculpture, videos and large-scale installations. His love for art started by painting cinema boards, posters, billboards and truck art in his hometown.
He has had numerous exhibitions since graduating. His most notable shows were at Canvas Gallery, Karachi; Taseer Art Gallery, Lahore; O Art Space, Lahore; Karachi Biennale, 2017; and a project with Imago Mundi Publication. He has also conducted workshops for the Lahore Biennale. Hamid was an artist in residence for VASL Taaza Tareen 11, “Diversity Adversity 2019”, in Karachi, and for Art for Snow Leopard Conservation in Hopper Valley in Gilgit. Hanbhi currently works at R.M. Naeem studio as a teacher.
To learn more about his practice and to add his work to your collection visit @theupsidespace

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Faizan Riedinger (@faizanriedinger) is a Pakistani visual artist and musician who grew up in an artistic household and was encouraged by his parents for his creative endeavours. Initially, he chose music as the vehicle of expression but later switched to visual arts. However, music remains a key influence in his art, evident in his fascination with rhythm and sequences.
The Flicker is an artwork that attempts to explore the intersection between technology and art. It embraces the imperfections and disruptions that often arise when working with digital media, turning them into a striking visual language that challenges our perceptions of what art can be.
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Habiba Nowrose (@metamoina ) is a lens-based artist from Dhaka, Bangladesh. She graduated in Women & Gender Studies from the University of Dhaka in 2012. In 2014, she completed the Pathshala South Asian Media Institute's Professional Photography Program. She also participated in an exchange programme with the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX) as part of this course. She is currently teaching Visual Anthropology at the Pathshala South Asian Media Institute. Her "Concealed" series achieved recognition as a finalist for the 2018 Invisible Photographers Asia Art Awards and the Samdani Art Award in 2020. Nowrose's exhibitions span across a numerous shows around the world and in various publications, including BBC World Service, Vice Asia, Voice of America, The Hindu, and Vogue India.
Concealed 3: Women are often forced to portray their beautiful selves. They are made to shed their individuality, stories, and traumas to obtain beauty. Eventually, they lose themselves and become one with this fabricated image; women become anonymous, even to themselves, and their identities remain concealed.
This work is part of the Concealed series.
To learn more about Habiba Noweose and her work visit @theupsidespace

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Dried flowers are nature's keepsakes and artist Natasha Yonan’s (@namayoka) work looks at giving them new life using methods like scenography.
Scenography, also called scan art, is a special type of digital art where objects are placed on a scanner directly to create intricate images. To introduce our artist, Natasha is an Iraqi artist based in Egypt. Her work studies the semiotics of social narratives in the contexts of disregarded objects, landscapes and moments using a wide range of mediums.
Browse more scenography work by Natasha and add these gems to your #NFT collection @theupsidespace!

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Ahmad Aiuby (@ahmadaiuby ) is an interdisciplinary artist and creative technologist. His work uses immersive and interactive media, creative coding, AI, and sound to explore the expressive possibilities offered by emerging digital technologies, and the ways in which algorithms are reshaping our everyday lives. His work was exhibited at Cairographie Festival (2017) and Roznama 7th (2019), Cairotronica Festival (2021), Ars Electronica (2021), and Arab Arts Focus (2022).

Ahmad’s work on showcase is made using AI generated images. The project uses artificial intelligence to create generative images of veils. The images are later used as inspiration to design veils that can manipulate Al facial recognition tools and reveal the fallacy of this technology.
The project raises the question of whether Al is sufficient for security and will its facial recognition tools make the world a safer place.
These work are part of the series : Failed: No Face Detected
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To view more from this series visit our website @theupsidespace (link in bio)
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Smile is one section of The Cinema Series that includes 50 digitally animated paintings created by Nujoom Alghanem. Each section represents a character with an individual title.
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Nujoom Alghanem(@nujoomalghanem ) is an Emirati poet, artist, and film director. She has published eight poetry collections and produced numerous films, including documentaries, short fiction, and art films. Her films have won over 40 regional and international prizes.
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The Cinema Series; Since 2016, Nujoom Alghanem has been capturing the faces of humans for different art projects using materials like canvas, burlap, denim, ceramic, glass, etc. In 2018, she started animating some of her paintings and sculptures in response to the trends popular among young smartphone users. She observed that some users altered their facial features using tools and applications like Snapchat and Instagram, then posted them publicly or sent these images to their friends and families privately. The series of animated faces that Nujoom created were grouped into individual and collective videos called “the Cinema”. She says that “we go to the cinema to watch actors adopt different roles to entertain us. Some performers look foolish, whereas others repeat certain gestures for different purposes. On the one hand, I wanted my animated faces to communicate with the visitors of my exhibition at Maraya Art Center in Sharjah; but on the other hand, what’s happening on social media in our time, particularly the selfie phenomena and other related trends, is marking a new era that is worth being captured cynically and artistically”.
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This work of Manjot Kaur is a 2D animation with sound. It speculates on the possibility of life on exoplanets and stars that are close to Earth. These animations are derived from a series of drawings titled "Random Order." The drawings were executed with watercolour and pen on paper. Selected elements of the drawing were then animated using digital media. Sound adds an additional layer to the experience of the work. The banality makes space for the viewer to imagine the simultaneity of parallel realities.
Note - Alpha Canis Majoris is part of an extended artwork comprising 4 editions of the work, one of which exists as an NFT and three of which exist as an off chain new-media artwork.

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Halim Al Karim (@xvagallery ), was born in Najaf, Iraq in 1963, and spent his early years in Beirut, where his father taught history and psychology at the American University. When Halim was around 10 years old, his family moved back to Iraq and settled in Baghdad.
After graduating from the Baghdad Institute of Fine Arts, where he studied ceramics, Halim shifted his focus to photography. He credits his interest in the medium to his father, an amateur photographer, who, when Halim was young, experimented with developing and printing methods, often printing partially out-of-focus. At the time, Halim thought this was accidental, but later realised it was probably intentional.
Eventually, Halim began experimenting with photography by minimally focusing on enlarged negatives to create his own set of blurred images. He explored ideas of detachment and disengagement by photographing subjects in front of stark backgrounds, which he would make disappear in the darkroom. The out-of-focus images imply an uncertainty of context, time and place.
This work serves as a wake-up call to human emotions and consciousness to prevent us from harming life.
Head out to @theupsidespace to add it to your collection and to know more about Halim Al Karim

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Kara's Escape: Minds are imprisoned in a future where the verge of ancient culture and modernity has faded. One’s search for consciousness every now and then is faced with alarm. The wind blows and the memory is refreshed. Colours are new. Where the escape is, becomes a question again. This work is from the series KARA.
Meysam Nemati (@meysamnematy) is a 3d artist, videographer and photographer based in Iran. About a decade ago, he embarked on a photography career, gradually establishing a reputation primarily as a fashion and commercial photographer. Over time, his involvement expanded into videography. Eventually, he and his friends co-founded a small group named Cush, dedicated to creating advertising content globally. 5 years ago he began experimenting with 3d animations and Visuals effects programs such as Marvelous Designer, Substance Painting, Daz Studio and DaVinci Resolve for post-production. This experimental journey continues to evolve to date.
The overarching goal has been to depict modernity within historical events, a theme consistently pursued in his artworks. This work is a 3D digital artwork with motion and animated elements.

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The artist questions democracy, a concept that came from the Greeks, in a situation where there is a clear hierarchy and the leader ignores the power of the people and overrules their will. The work is based on the Greek god Zeus, who, in Greek mythology, is the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans. The black and white colour palette of the work is reminiscent of Greek sculptures.
The artist shows Zeus misusing his power and toying with the gods and humans he is supposed to oversee. Behind his head, the lightning bolt, a symbol that stands for him, is represented as a crack in the floor. This mighty god of the skies is presented as if he has fallen and the system that he stands for is now broken.
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DO a.k.a Nikunj Prajapati (@dostreetart ) is an artist, muralist, sculptor, and graffiti writer based in India. He has worked on several street art projects during street art festivals organised by the St+art India Foundation and the Kochi Biennale. He has worked with Meta, Miral, Blossa, https://t.co/klHhsI6fk2, PayPal, Levi’s, Instagram, and Google for their events and campaigns. Most of his work is produced in association with XXL India, together with the artist Khatra. He has worked in various cities in India and on international projects in Stockholm, Sweden; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE. He explores and experiments with abstraction and figuration and makes sculptures with innovative materials like vinyl and reflectives. He also likes to play with words and typefaces. In his graffiti, he writes “TryTryTry”, and he is presently working on a long-term campaign called “treetreetree” to spread awareness using moss and shades of green.

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Roaming Eyes : “The wandering eyes of man Friday , that sees all and sees nothing…”

The physical handcrafted pendant, reimagined as a dynamic digital piece, consists of 3 details printed on ceramic and framed in silver. It is based on a series of wearable art pieces created by Devendra and on paintings by the renowned Sri Lankan artist, George Keyt.
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Since 1990, Mihiri
Devendra(@devendramihiri ) has excelled as a jeweler, creative educator, project coordinator, and facilitator. As the founder of Leap by Mihiri Wearable Art and co-founder of Leap Space at Sapumal Foundation - Sri Lanka , she conducts workshops for Palmyra weavers, teaches metalsmithing, and explores innovative methods like recycling glass. Her collaboration with Rush and Reed weavers and regional businesses aims to align products with global market standards.

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Artist Mohd. Intiyaz ( @ansari_intiyaz__ ) was 4 years old, when he migrated to Delhi from Jharkhand. Belonging to a lower caste family, and lower economic status, his family had to live in the slums of Delhi, where they negotiated their daily lives.
With diverse cultures living in Delhi’s slums, facing daily challenges his creative work delves into these issues, addressing the neglected struggles of marginalized communities, offering perspectives through new media and mixed media artworks.
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How does it make you feel? : Human beings live on the basis of memories; while we hold on to some, we make a continual effort to erase others as quickly as possible.
There was a “phase” that we all went through collectively. Many people faced troubles during that time, and we all saw humanity dying. People experienced great sorrows, and this led to a scar that can never be forgotten.
The work critiques that period with everyone left to fend for themselves and draw their own ‘Laxman Rekha’ or personal circle of protection.
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To add this work to you collection visit @theupsidespace
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BRAINWASH - Most often, what changes the way individuals think and feel originates from within themselves. A thought acts as the spark that ignites within, cleansing their minds. Despite the perception of external influences from stars, celebrities, and personalities, the truth is that individuals influence themselves the most. They are the ones making decisions for their own selves.

Rohit Khedkar ( @hitrohji ) is a 26-year-old artist from Dombivli, Mumbai. He has a passion for Indian classical music, influenced by his late mother who was a teacher in the same field. After earning his BFA from JJ Institute of Applied Arts, he pursued a stable job in advertising before his creative instincts led him to embrace his true identity as an independent, artist.

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"Lake Village” is a 3D digital artwork portraying the harmonious coexistence of Giants and Midgets in the fictional realm of Mildendo. While this utopia exists only in fairy tales, the piece reflects the artist's belief in the possibility of peaceful cohabitation among people. The artwork emphasizes the importance of storytelling and emotional connection in art, fostering a magical link between the creator and the observer.

Farruk Murad ( @projectparadigma ) is a brand and identity designer, and 3D artist from Uzbekistan. He collaborates with local and international entities, crafting impactful brands and immersive 3D narrative artworks that invite viewers to engage in the unfolding story, conveying emotions and exploring themes of freedom, unity, and life's significance.

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Indonesian artist Salvita Salim De Corte ( @salvita.decorte ), born in Bali with German and Indian roots, is known for her portraits, characterised by an expressionist style, carrying distinct identities that come to life through diverse mediums like oil paint, acrylic, and mixed media. In this piece, she captures a figure in a state of "bengong"( staring into space; gone; not here or there).

This piece belongs to the dark series—a collection of drawings created just before bedtime. Upon returning home, the artist began reflecting on their childhood and fragmented memories, realising that the experience of being in a "bengong" state was one of the most familiar and vivid recollections. Through the paintings, the artist endeavours to preserve and revisit memories, particularly those from childhood. This deliberate act allows for the repetition of certain memories, such as the state of "bengong," with a growing desire to immerse oneself in that mental state as age advances.

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Pema Gyeltshen’s ( @divine_brushes ) “Jachung: The Garuda” : The Jachung is a Buddhist mythological creature that represents perfection and the great freedom of the wide mind that is not caught up in emotional conflicts. This divine bird, like the rays of the sun, can reach everywhere and bring about the growth of life and wisdom. In this painting, the Jachung remains calm and vigilant despite the violent yet beautiful union of water and fire that it is engulfed in.
Pema Gyeltshen discovered his love for art at a very young age. In school, instead of focusing on lectures, he often drew or scribbled on the backs of his notebooks. In 1998, he joined the Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu (VAST), where he learnt the basic elements of art/painting

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MEJ. (@mejvalencia) is an artist hailing from the Philippines and currently based in Dubai, delving into the intricacies of human boundaries through a personal and cinematic lens. Boasting 13 years of expertise in the creative realm, he has cultivated a distinctive style that seamlessly fuses traditional 3D and 2D art. The result is a collection of visuals that not only captivate the viewer but also spark curiosity and incite contemplative questions.
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Hiraya Manawari is an ancient Tagalog phrase, which literally means "Hope it comes to pass". "Hiraya" is a deeper form of hope, and "Manawari" means to happen.
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Untitled II :
Similar to poetry, a well-crafted visual artwork possesses the capacity for multiple interpretations. The viewer plays an integral role in the artistic experience by imparting personal meanings to the piece. In his artistic practice, he actively explores this phenomenon by creating works that embrace and invite such subjective interpretations. His interest lies in the collection of objects, particularly those with ties to the past, as his creations aim to revisit and preserve the “old” while ushering in the “new.”
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Farhat Ali ( @farhat3893242 ) embarked on his artistic journey as a signboard painter, spurred by the encouragement of his mother, who instilled in him the perceptive eyes of an artist. Over the course of a decade as a painter, he delved into various techniques and mediums, enriching his artistic repertoire.
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"Phua Juan Yong (@phuajuanyong ) specialises in image creation through 3D software, with a recent focus on capturing the essence of traditional paintings using digital techniques.
Every Day from Just Another Day series : Within this series, Phua delves into his fascination with technology, the internet, and the information age by portraying slices of everyday life as figurative works of art. Each piece serves as a contrasting counterpoint to the others, reflecting the ironies and absurdities inherent in navigating an oversaturated virtual world.
The cognitive dissonance in this artwork is heightened by the diverse mediums and processes employed. Starting with virtual reality sculpting, followed by remeshing and painting on a tablet, then lighting and composition in 3D software, and finally, refinement using photo-editing software, each step contributes to the commentary on the issues the series aims to critique.
Visit @theupsidespace to discover Phua’s groundbreaking works and add it to your NFT collection.
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Anurag’s ( @anuragb11 ) artwork delves into the socio-political landscape of our contemporary era, aiming to articulate the prevailing disparity, helplessness, and disillusionment experienced by the common people in response to the persistent divisive and domineering political dynamics of our nation.
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Demographics: This piece symbolises the oppression of the common people through a once-empowered voting finger, now rendered weightless and voiceless, bearing the scars of the state’s power. The rocks serve as metaphors for the landlords, the ruling class, exerting control over the very essence of the demographic existence.
This powerful piece is part of the exhibition, ‘Public Memory,’ curated by Aadit Basu ( @aaditbasu )
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Visit @theupsidespace to discover Anurag Basak groundbreaking works and add it to your NFT collection.