For my blog entry on Shahzia Sikander, I chose her piece "Ready To Leave" which was revealed in 1997. This painting uses transparent and opaque watercolor, tea water and graphite on marbled paper measuring 9 7/8 × 7 9/16 in. (25.1 × 19.2 cm). It is currently on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

What I liked most about this particular piece is the balance of abstract, cultural symbols with our human element right at the center. This to me says that for everything else to exists around us, we have to exists first, otherwise there is only the natural wilderness landscape for no one to enjoy. Cultural elements would be the creature in the forefront with the veil piece on its head symbolizing either blindness or something to be revealed like a bridal veil. Then we have various circle patterns which I imagine are elements of her culture and faith with the background appearing to be more abstract with a mix of light browns, reds, whites and grey colored sketching at the top.
  All of this put together, stood out to me among her other works which is why I chose it as my main piece to discuss. Last but not least, the open blue space we see covering her face could symbolize her imagining the near future of getting to leave where she is now for a better life in the future which is left up to the viewer to interpret.

Ready To Leave