Amean J
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| Amean J. | |
|---|---|
 Portrait by Essa Malik/2009 |
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| Born | 22 July 1974 Karachi, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani Canadian |
| Alma mater | Academy of Art University [US] Vancouver Film School [CAN] University of Bedfordshire [UK] |
| Occupation | Photographer/Assistant Professor |
| Website | |
| http://www.ameanj.com/ | |
Amin Jan Mohammed better known as Amean J. (b Karachi (PAK), July 22nd, 1974) is a Pakistani Canadian[1] photographer based in Karachi who first made a name for himself in fashion and advertising circles. Heralded for his seamless blending of art and craft[citation needed], he quickly became the photographer of choice for fashionistas[who?], discerning corporate clients[who?] and independent multimedia projects. But it was the striking imagery of his personal work that made him popular with critics and art lovers.[citation needed]
Exhibitions like Zoo Blue, Karachi Cityscapes, Moharram, Sand & Water & 15 x 4 showcased the ease with which he dissects life, defines clarity and finds beauty in the mundane.
Having studied under greats like Henry Horenstein RISD, Ken Light and Michael Kolster [AAU] & assisted others like Dilip Mehta [CONTACT][citation needed], he applied the techniques & work ethics he absorbed under them to establish a successful career way back in 1997, graduating with a BFA in Photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.[citation needed] Having earned his spurs as a commercial artist, and portraitist of choice, Amean moved on.
Driven by his need to learn more and to keep experiencing, in 2004 he enrolled in an MA in Media, Culture & Technology at the University of Luton/Bedfordshire [UK]. It is this kind of passion that makes Amean J. unique. He constantly seeks to enrich himself through exposure and experience. His imagery is informed by his cosmopolitan worldview.[clarification needed] Based in Karachi, Amean J’s work and name have been featured in publications like The New Yorker, Colors, Herald, Newsline and books such as ‘1000 signs’ by Taschen, 'Mazaar Bazaar' by OUP, K'architecture by A Black Olive and his first solo book book, 'BHV ZOO' by Markings in 2010.
Director, photographer, producer - Amean J. has been many things to many projects. His skill with images as opposed to pictures is evidenced by his projects as director. These include a music video for the song Khuahish [Desire] by Rushk. A fresh take on war, the video was pulled off air soon after some decoded its political inspirations. Amean seeks to change the way people look at the world by constantly pushing the envelope to help image making transcend photography. Not content with wishing things were different, he looks through the lens and records them differently.[citation needed]
2005 saw him back in Pakistan, and the resurgence of his studio 18% grey, where an aesthetic sense shaped by Helmut Newton, Garry Winogrand, Joel Sternfeld and David LaChapelle combines with technique, teamwork and professionalism to bring finesse and freshness to advertisements, graphics, annual reports, corporate profiles, and print & multimedia productions.
Amean J is the founding board member of the The Citizens Archive of Pakistan and a managing partner for Black Olive Publishing. Along with photographing, exhibiting, and curating out of his studio 18% grey, Amean was appointed as the Program In-charge for the Post-Graduate Diploma in Photography at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture at its inception in 2010, he is on the advisory board for KOEL Gallery.
He continues to photograph spaces[disambiguation needed 
]; and people interested in portraits where honesty is the only brief.
Contents |
[edit] Education
MA - Media, Culture & Technology Degree Conferred | August 2005[citation needed]
University of Bedfordshire [UK]
BFA – Photography Degree Conferred | August 1997[citation needed]
Academy of Art University San Francisco
[edit] Published
NABILA CHANGES | Glamour Portraits by leading photographers of Pakistan[1]
Published in 2011 by L'Oreal
BHV ZOO | Life at Bahawalpur Zoo Photography by Amean J[2]
Published in September 2010 by Markings [3]
K’ARCHITECTURE | Seven photo-essays compiled by Amean J & Arshad Faruqui
Published in April 2010 by A Black Olive Publication [4]
The ancient Greeks referred to the area around Karachi as “Krokola”, which was the site where Alexander the Great once set up a camp after his Indus Valley military campaign. The present location of Karachi was said to have been first inhabited by a Sindhi woman called Mai Kolachi, but it would see great improvements only after the British took over the village in 1839. In 1947, a new country called Pakistan was formed and Karachi became its first capital city during its first decade. In the following years, the population increased rapidly because of the great influx of refugees and immigrants from the neighboring countries. Despite the phenomenal rise in population, the city managed to maintain its cultural diversity and continued to experience tremendous economic and cultural growth. This book celebrates the diversity of Karachi through the lenses of these photographers.
Mazaar, Bazaar | Design and Visual Culture in Pakistan Edited by Saima Zaidi | Photo-essay by Amean J
Published in February 2010 by Oxford University Press
With over 30 contributions from leading experts, this is an inter-disciplinary study on design and visual culture in Pakistan; these reflect social, commercial, and geo-political changes influencing the country. The book documents contemporary visual vernacular and provides an overview of the impact of diverse cultures assimilated by this region over several millennia. Historic evidence is fused with contemporary expression, as well as ‘fine arts’ with ‘applied arts’.
Born Of Fire Photography by Amean J & Izdeyar Setna
Published in January 2008 by Oxford University Press
Born of Fire is a book published in conjunction with a Retrospective Exhibition of his work. “Salahuddin Mian Remembered 1938 – 2006” at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture’s IVS Gallery in Karachi and at Zahoor ul Akhlaq Gallery at National College of Arts, Lahore. It is a labour of love and truly brings the man to life.
1000 Signs All Photographs from Pakistan by Amean J
Published in June 2004 by Taschen
This book features an amusing collection of signs from around the world. Divided into chapters by type (animals, men, stop, danger, weapons, transport, children, toilets, work, "no!", etc.), the signs demonstrate how different cultures portray the icons with which we are all so familiar. The diverse selection of photographs is accompanied by texts describing the cultural and social significance of signs. You[who?] may even learn things from this book that could save your life the next time you travel![citation needed]
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
'The way he sees it' article by Madeeha Syed [5]
