KARACHI: Power is everywhere. It makes us who we are. This is how the French philosopher Michel Foucault defines power with reference to a ‘regime of truth’. But artist Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, a known name in the world of fashion, links it to the divine element of existence where ‘sharing’ becomes an act of empowerment and not of deprivation. This was made evident in a two-part exhibition of Qureshi’s artworks titled ‘Recollections’ at the Canvas Art Gallery on Monday evening.

Let’s get to the second part first: a performance show that lasted a few minutes. That is where the artist expressed himself claiming that the act was about ‘transfer of power’, about ‘letting go’, about becoming ‘fearless’ when power was shared. The show was performed by the artist himself, actor Ayub Khosa and actress Zhalay Sarhadi, with the turban being both motif and leitmotif (decorative image and recurring theme).

To be honest, it was the first segment of the one-day exhibition which had more oomph: the artworks. They were done in different media which meant that Qureshi had been working on them for a considerable period of time. Although they focused on a host of subjects, it was clear that the artist wanted to communicate his profound admiration for the under-discussed ‘positives’ in/of our country as well as highlight those aspects that have been gnawing at society’s soul.

For example, no visitor to the gallery (and there were many on Monday evening) could have missed the big ‘Door’ (mixed media on vintage wooden door). It’s an incisive work of art. Of course, the door is a symbol of entering a new domain or re-stepping into something that’s tried and tested. But the way Qureshi has fragmented his pieces of advice, so to speak, is quite interesting. There is a flurry of ideas — ‘Behave’, ‘Kun Fayakun’, ‘Shukr is the ultimate luxury’, etc — which indicates the existential dilemma of choices in retrospect making way for the possibility of the choices that we can make. Also, aesthetically the artwork is well constructed.

Then there were mixed media sculptural pieces acknowledging the talent and worth of our local heroes. There the artist added a little twist to his work. Film-maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and cricketer Wasim Akram’s sculptures are a tribute to their great achievements and at the same time a covert wish to see them assume a zen-like posture, away from the media glare, perhaps.

Qureshi’s photographic prints lend variety to his repertoire. ‘Alive’ and ‘Clash n Cove’ are two examples of it, especially the former in which the ocean looks like a rolled out carpet designed by nature.

The event was hosted by Frieha Altaf and Sameera Raja.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2015

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