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Zarina Hashmi, professionally known as Zarina, was a notable Indian-American artist and printmaker based in New York City. Her artistic repertoire encompassed drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Aligned with the minimalist movement, her work employed abstract and geometric forms to elicit a spiritual response from viewers.

Born in Aligarh, India, in 1937, Hashmi initially pursued mathematics and later worked as an educator and librarian. Her artistic journey led her to Bangkok for woodblock printing studies and Atelier 17 in Paris for intaglio printmaking under S. W. Hayter's guidance. In 1968, she returned to India and began exhibiting her art both nationally and internationally. In 1974, she relocated to Tokyo and worked with Toshi Yoshido, subsequently immigrating to the United States in 1975, where she settled in New York City.

Zarina Hashmi's art is distinguished by a minimalist look and an obsessive attention to detail. To express significant topics and feelings, she frequently used simple geometric designs and a limited color palette. Her work was heavily impacted by her personal experiences of displacement and longing as a result of living in nations such as India, Thailand, Germany, and the United States.

Some of Zarina Hashmi works include pieces characterized by simple geometric shapes that explore themes such as home, displacement, borders, and memory, often inspired by her personal experiences as a globally mobile Indian woman. Her art has been showcased in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Hashmi received numerous awards during her career, including India's Padma Shri in 2006. Notably, her print "Untitled (Border, 1975)" set a record for an Indian artist, selling for $1.2 million at auction in 2017.

Zarina Hashmi's art transcends borders and cultures, delving into complex themes like identity and memory while maintaining a personal and universal appeal. Her mastery of materials, often utilizing paper, wood, and metal, allows her to convey profound emotions and ideas with elegant simplicity. Investigating Identity and Place

At the heart of her work is an exploration of identity and the concept of home. Having lived in various countries, she keenly understood the fluidity and complexity of identity. Her series "Home Is a Foreign Place" poignantly captures the feelings of displacement and the quest for belonging, often incorporating maps, intricate lines, and symbols to convey physical and emotional journeys.

"Letters from Home" is a striking collection of eight monochromatic woodblock and metalcut prints inspired by Urdu letters from her sister Rani, who remained in Pakistan after the 1947 partition of India. These prints depict Rani's family life and sentiments, revealing the human cost of the partition and the unifying power of art across time and geography.

Zarina Hashmi's artistic odyssey demonstrates the ability of creativity to transcend boundaries and unite people across cultures. Her art continues to inspire and connect with new audiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for abstraction, minimalism, and the exploration of identity. Through platforms like Auction Daily, her work reaches a broader audience, promoting the beauty of these artistic expressions.

Zarina Hashmi was an Indian American artist who used minimalism to explore topics such as home, displacement, borders, and memory. Her art has been displayed in various museums around the world and is highly sought after by collectors. She was a significant figure in Indian and worldwide art.

Auctiondaily delivers thorough and up-to-date auction business news coverage, educating readers on the auction process and the importance of auctioneering. The website includes auction news, previews of upcoming auctions, an auction calendar, and a blog. Zarina Hashmi's art is a testament to the universal language of creativity, serving as a bridge between cultures, emotions, and experiences.