Imran Qureshi's exhibition opens in Rome today. All of us are probably a little fatigued with looking at Imran's images, but do remember that no other Pakistani artist has gotten such a global profile with a series of globally important exhibitions in such cramped period of time. So, dare I say, enjoy while it lasts as we are seeing history in the making!
Flowers of blood in Qureshi's Rome exhibition
Source: AFP / Various newspapers/websites
ROME: Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi brought his award-winning exhibition on beauty and violence to Rome Monday, unveiling the blood-themed creations which saw him appointed Deutsche Bank's 2013 “Artist of the Year.”
The 41-year-old, who was given the honour of creating an installation on the rooftop of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art this year, has brought 35 works to Rome's Macro museum for an exhibition which runs until November 17.
A rising star of South Asia's “neo-miniaturist” group of artists, Qureshi pays homage to the ancient Islamic art form of miniatures in the collection while simultaneously exploring elements of contemporary abstract painting.
Many of the works contrast life and brutal death, with splatterings of red acrylic paint to suggest blood and intricate foliage designs representing life.
In one, what appears to be the blood splatter from a gun shot wound drips down a white background to pool on the floor, while in another two giant, sun-like yellow spheres are tinged with a violent red.
Another sphere reminiscent of a fruit sports flowers of blood.
The artist, who teaches miniatures at Lahore's National College of Arts (NCA), has said the colour tone in his work is inspired by brutal bombings in Pakistan, in particular, one strike close to his family home which destroyed a market three years ago.
The instant transformation of place full of life to bloody landscape had a deep effect on his work, he said.
Artist Iman Qureshi poses next to his workon September 23, 2013 during the opening of his exhibition at the Macro Museum in Rome. PHOTO: AFP
Source: Facebook.
Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi poses next to his work on September 23, 2013 during the opening of his exhibition in Rome (AFP, Tiziana Fabi)
Some more press coverage below.
1 - More press coverage in Italian Newspapers
2 - More press coverage in Italian Newspapers
3 - More press coverage in Italian Newspapers
4 - Press coverage in Dawn
5 - Press coverage in the Tribune
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