Islamabad: Imran Mughal’s paintings hum with a quiet musicality, as if memories had found form before being interrupted. The exhibition, which opened on Friday at Gallery6, brings together over twenty acrylic-on-canvas paintings completed over the past year and a half.

Curator Dr Arjumand Faisel observes that Mughal’s work is “rooted in the visual heritage of the subcontinent,” weaving together folklore, popular culture, music and personal imagination.

He reinterprets cultural symbols, traditional motifs and modern design through a spontaneous process, allowing memories and emotions to surface directly onto the canvas. The resulting paintings feel deeply connected to indigenous tradition yet contemporary in their outlook.

Rather than treating cultural references as fixed or nostalgic, Mughal lets motifs and narratives drawn from collective memory emerge through a fluid, intuitive approach. Music plays a central role, directing the rhythm and spontaneity of his image-making.

His training in textile design is evident in the intricate patterns, layered surfaces, and decorative sensibility that give his paintings their visual richness. Though deeply personal, the paintings offer a visual language that is also universally resonant, inviting viewers into a world shaped by imagination, cultural memory and creative freedom. His earthy reds, indigos and antique golds colours feel both contemporary and steeped in the Subcontinent’s craft traditions.

In a short span of time, Mughal has earned recognition at both national and international levels. His visual language transcends cultural boundaries, touching on universal themes through a distinctly subcontinental aesthetic. A recipient of the Merit Prize at the Arjumand Painting Award in 2023, he is represented by Ogirikan Art Gallery in Nigeria and has exhibited in Lahore, Karachi, the UK and Iran.

Speaking to Dawn, Mughal reveals a quiet self-criticism: “An artist is never satisfied with his work. One should aspire for improvement.” His imagery, he explains, draws equally from heritage and the textures of daily life—the cats, horses and snakes that recur throughout the exhibition as symbols of human desire, act as vessels of longing, dream and cultural memory, while faceless figures drift in from a cosmic imagination.

Samreen Asif, an artist and teacher, notes how Mughal balances a multitude of elements and contrasts, creating a harmony of colour and imagery that is difficult to sustain. Rahat Naveed Masud finds a spontaneous energy despite the careful labour:

“His rich palette, and his imagery are full of fantastical creatures… It shows the artist’s exposure to various cultures.”

Senior artist Mughees Riaz points to the distinct individual style, where transparent layers and thickly painted passages make the compositions speak to each other.

The exhibition is on view until June 30.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026