Personal, political and the rest of it

Published March 4, 2015
Rainy Days of Childhood by Arsalan Nasir
Rainy Days of Childhood by Arsalan Nasir

KARACHI: It is heartening to see how acutely young Pakistani artists are aware of the socio-political milieu they’ve grown up in and the artistic flair with which they interpret their experiences. To gauge the verity of this claim a visit to the Art Chowk Gallery, where a two-person exhibition titled ‘From the Personal and the Political’ opened on Tuesday, would suffice. The way the two artists — Nasir Ansari and Arsalan Nasir — have used the knowledge of the contemporary world and obliviousness with which this world treats some important aspects of life is quite striking.

Arsalan Nasir’s Home Sweet Home
Arsalan Nasir’s Home Sweet Home

The show immediately grabs the viewer’s attention because the very first piece on display, ‘Rainy Days of Childhood’ (digital print on non-tearable vinyl, colour films, SMDs, sensor) by Arsalan speaks volumes for its uniqueness. Uniqueness not in terms of technique (that some might find fancy), but in the fact that the artist has dealt with the subject in an unusually endearing fashion. There’s the other, if not flip, side to his artwork as the viewer is urged to lift it. Once it’s lifted, the picture takes a colourful turn that hints at childhood days, and the innocence that’s associated with it. However, it’s not that simple. Here, the political facet of the journey is understated.

Mask I by Nasir Ansari
Mask I by Nasir Ansari

Another artwork from the same tribe, as it were, is called ‘2X2=?’. This is where the fun begins, and interpretation becomes simpler. It’s a mathematical table that all of us got to learn in our childhood. But once the piece is raised, the random thoughts in the form of mishmash lines that only a child can have as opposed to calculated mathematical equations come to the fore. So the good thing about the artwork is that it doesn’t pit the past against the present; it speaks of the past that never leaves us.

Jashn-i-Azadi by Arsalan Nasir
Jashn-i-Azadi by Arsalan Nasir

Arsalan then makes a very interesting comment on the social media phenomenon that has taken the modern world by storm in a series called ‘Jashn-i-Azadi’. Again, he doesn’t highlight the contrast in or among things. The artist is seeing one phenomenon propelling another into a modern space.

Nasir takes the show, directly, to a political realm with an intelligent interplay of light, dots and shapes in the ‘Mask’ series (Plexiglas, metal rod). The mask in his work can be taken off, metaphorically that is, once the use of the source light is compromised. And that’s an interesting thought.

The exhibition, curated by Aziz Sohail Projects, will run until March 17.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

First steps
Updated 29 May, 2024

First steps

One hopes that this small change will pave the way for bigger things.
Rafah inferno
29 May, 2024

Rafah inferno

THE level of barbarity witnessed in Sunday’s Israeli air strike targeting a refugee camp in Rafah is shocking even...
On a whim
29 May, 2024

On a whim

THE sudden declaration of May 28 as a public holiday to observe Youm-i-Takbeer — the anniversary of Pakistan’s...
Afghan puzzle
Updated 28 May, 2024

Afghan puzzle

Unless these elements are neutralised, it will not be possible to have the upper hand over terrorist groups.
Attacking minorities
28 May, 2024

Attacking minorities

Mobs turn into executioners due to the authorities’ helplessness before these elements.
Persistent scourge
28 May, 2024

Persistent scourge

THE challenge of polio in Pakistan has reached a new nadir, drawing grave concerns from the Technical Advisory Group...