COYA WORLDWIDE 2023 - 2024
‘Retrospective’ is a mid-career retrospective show by multimedia contemporary British artist Zoobs Ansari. The exhibition will showcase iconic works by the artist, produced over 25 years, between 1998 and 2013. The works will be showcased at various Coya venues around the globe, including London, Paris, Monaco, Marbella, Barcelona, Gstaad, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, during 2023 and 2024.
'RETROSPECTIVE'
‘Retrospective’ is a mid-career retrospective show by multimedia contemporary British artist Zoobs Ansari. The exhibition will showcase iconic works by the artist, produced over 25 years, between 1998 and 2013. The works will be showcased at various Coya venues around the globe, including London, Paris, Monaco, Marbella, Barcelona, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, during 2023 and 2024. The show will cover works in various medium, including drawing, painting, photography, digital images, mixed media works, collage, montage and literature. Different genres of work by the artist from different creative periods of his career will be displayed at various venues around the globe over the course of the following two years. Collectively, the show will celebrate the many different genres of art works by the artist.
ZOOBS ANSARI
How It All Started
Step into the captivating world of Zoobs Ansari, a British artist whose creative exploration takes on society's relentless fixation with physical perfection and celebrity allure. With a keen focus on the human face, Zoobs's diverse works traverse the realms of photography, audio, video, sculpture, and performance, drawing inspiration from the intertwined threads of art, fashion, film, and music.
Born in London, Zoobs's artistic journey bears the weight of profound challenges following his father's untimely departure. Seeking solace in the vivid escapism of 80s TV shows and the glamorous personas of pop stars, he delved deep into the transformative power of hair, makeup, and clothing in turning everyday individuals into empowered icons.
Having initially carved a path in commercial photography, Zoobs veered toward more personal projects in 2005. His photography evolved into a tapestry of expression, embellished with drips of vibrant acrylic paint and collaged lyrics, which captured the attention of audiences worldwide. Notably, his irreverent portrayals of public figures like Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge earned him critical acclaim, challenging conventions with an audacious artistic spirit.
Venturing across the Atlantic to the United States, Zoobs embarked on a mesmerizing exploration of "video portraits" inspired by the legendary Andy Warhol's screen tests. Within these captivating visual narratives, actors, musicians, and even chance encounters with everyday individuals became subjects of his artistic lens. Blending meticulous preparations, candid interviews, and elements of fashion and cinema, Zoobs wove together a symphony of visual storytelling.
A deep resonance with Warhol's own upbringing and career trajectory fueled Zoobs's artistic connection to the pop art pioneer. With a touch of playful wit, he deftly delved into the consequences of our modern obsession with social media fame, shedding light on the pitfalls that await those who blindly pursue fleeting notoriety.
Zoobs Ansari's recent photographic endeavors serve as a thought-provoking reflection of our contemporary society, urging us to question our unrelenting pursuit of physical perfection and the elusive mirage of celebrity culture. Through his captivating art, he invites us to contemplate the detrimental effects of an obsessive quest for fame in an age dominated by the ever-illuminating glow of social media.