Art & Culture
A Sense of Belonging: Faiqa Uppal’s Story of Culture, Connection and Sisterhood; Through Brushstrokes
By Nadeem Mirza
At the heart of the newly formed Midlands International Artists Collective (MIAC) is a celebration of diversity, identity, memory, and emotional landscapes.
Opened on 21st May at Solihull’s Courtyard Gallery, Belongings brings together 20 diverse artists exploring heritage, home, and the many ways we carry our histories with us. For Faiqa Uppal, who divides her time between the UK and Pakistan, belonging is not confined to a single place but flows through her art, rooted in culture and spirit.
“I think belonging is a reflection of root, culture and spiritual connection,” she says. “My paint and brushes are my belongings, and I make a spiritual connection with my subjects through these.”
Her exhibited work, “Music Melody”, pays homage to the intricate visual tradition of Mughal miniatures. With vivid, joyful brushwork, Faiqa captures a tender moment between sisters—a motif drawn from memories of her own family in Pakistan. It is a celebration of sisterhood, memory, and music, translated into colour and form. In this way, the painting becomes more than an artwork; it is a living archive of longing, joy, and connection across borders.
Faiqa’s piece joins a vibrant and varied body of work that includes painting, photography, textiles and ceramics—all reflecting stories of migration, layered identities, and what it means to belong in a multicultural world. From the floral-infused domestic spaces of Fiona Carr to the textile narratives of Daya Bhatti, Belongings resists a single definition of home, opting instead to weave together complex, overlapping stories.
Curated by Birmingham-based art historian Ruth Millington, the exhibition marks the culmination of the Get Gallery Ready bootcamp, a pioneering programme at Solihull College & University Centre. The project was designed to support local artists in finding their voice—and a gallery platform—in a supportive, collaborative environment.
That spirit of connection is palpable. As one of the founding artists of MIAC, Faiqa has found not just a place to exhibit, but a community. Her work stands as a bridge between continents, a lyrical expression of what it means to carry one’s heritage in one hand and a paintbrush in the other.
Alongside Faiqa Uppal, the exhibition features works by:
Alice Alena Adamkova, Prashant Kansara, Daya Bhatti, Sarmite Lasmane, Hasret Brown, Irina Mackie, Leticia Campos, Anisa Mosaiebiniya, Fiona Carr, Sandra Palmer, Sylwia Ciszewska-Peciak, Brian Prangle, EDITORIAT, Sophie Slade, Robbie Jeffcott, Natasha Taheem, Joanna Grochot, Tara Harris and Suminder Virk.
‘Belongings’ runs from 21 May 2025 at The Courtyard Gallery, Solihull.
For more about the artists and MIAC, visit Solihull College’s website.
Related Topics:#Art #culture# Featured# Nadeem Mirza #Pakistan #Politics #Uppal’s Story #FAIQAZ #Faiqa’s Story
Art & Culture
“The Backyard Ballet: Cat and Crow in Comic Courtship — A Poem by Zeenat Iqbal Hakimjee”
My backyard is livened up
By the cat and the crow.
From a distance they for each other
A liking show.
Caw Caw, Meow Meow they hark & howl.
A din enough, to disturb the neighbouring fowl
Both of them perched on the dustbin.
Turn by turn.
Waiting for a morsel, from the kitchen to return.
Up goes the left over meat, in the air,
What ensues would ashame ‘The battle for the chair
Art & Culture
What’s Cooking: A Lively Dance of Flames and Flavors in the Heart of a Homely Kitchen — A Whimsical Reflection by Zeenat Iqbal Hakimjee from Harmony
la Ra Rum go the prancing, dancing,
Flames of the stove,
Amused by this scenario, is the meat
Being cooked above.
The groin softens to the warmth of the fire,
With the cabbage and potato.
It forms an empire.
The unveiling of the platter,
Reveals, fit for a king, matter.
Copied from television this recipe
Is a treat, When near and dear ones,
Altogether do meet.
PAKISTAN HIGH COMMISSION
LONDON
Press Release
The Government of Pakistan presented a major contemporary Islamic artwork to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, marking the first-ever representation of Pakistan in the Centre’s permanent collection.
The gift was presented by High Commissioner, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, along with his spouse Dr. Sarah Naeem, in a graceful event that was attended by Lord Wajid Khan, academics and scholars, faculty of OCIS, officers of Pakistan High Commission and friends of Pakistan.
The gifted sculpture, created by renowned Pakistani artist Mr. Amin Gulgee, is from his acclaimed Zero Gravity II series. The work features the fifth verse of Surah Al-Alaq – one of the earliest verses revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) – عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ “[He] taught humankind what they knew not” (Quran 96:5) – rendered in elegant Naskh calligraphy and dramatically deconstructed into seven floating, interconnected components that appear to defy gravity.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, High Commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom said that it was a great honour and personal pleasure to represent the Government and people of Pakistan on the occasion. “To have Pakistan’s artistic voice now resonate within these walls is a matter of immense national pride. This gift is not a one-time event, but the beginning of a lasting relationship between Pakistan and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies”, the High Commissioner stated. Dr. Faisal expressed the hope this artwork will serve as a bridge – opening doors to deeper collaboration in research, scholarship, academic exchange, and cultural dialogue for many years to come.
The High Commissioner extended warm gratitude to Director OCIS Dr. Farhan Ahmad Nizami and the management of the Centre for accepting the gift and to Mr. Amin Gulgee for creating a work that “so beautifully embodies the Pakistani spirit of creativity rooted in faith.” He concluded by expressing hope that the sculpture would inspire visitors to remember that the pursuit of knowledge is a sacred journey, one that began with the divine command “Iqra” – Read – and continues through institutions such as the Oxford Centre and through the growing partnership between Pakistan and the Centre.
Dr. Farhan Nizami, Director OCIS thanked the people and Government of Pakistan for the gift and expressed the hope that collaboration between Pakistan and the Centre will further strengthen.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is recognized worldwide as a leading institution for the multi-disciplinary study of Islamic culture, civilization, and contemporary Muslim societies.
Oxford
20th November, 2025
“The Backyard Ballet: Cat and Crow in Comic Courtship — A Poem by Zeenat Iqbal Hakimjee”
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