Working within the language of minimalism, Sumaira investigates the conceptual discourse in South Asian miniature painting, its symbolism from the exotic to the contemporary.
She challenges the boundaries of the traditional practice, by adopting a contemporary approach, experimenting with scale, medium and material, informed by the myths, realities and metaphors of everyday life. She chooses objects and motifs that signify multiple meanings, such as a variety of boxes or containers, stitch craft and symbols from nature. A female artist in the diaspora, she creates narratives on social issues close to her, such as displacement and abuse. Along with miniature paintings she also delves in the realm of sculpture, installation, video and sound art, thus finding herself in a clan of multidisciplinary visual artists.
