Rickshaws and Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, have a history. There is an old saying, “Italy ki shehzadi Sindh ki god mayn”. An Italian princess in the lap of Sindh, which refers to the time when rickshaws were relatively new and used to have a portrait of Mona Lisa on their triangular back panels.
This was the inspiration for Mohan Das’s work that went on display at the Canvas Art Gallery from Tuesday. His work consists of triangular portraits of famous personalities such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. “I spent a large part of my childhood painting rickshaws,” said Das. “I used to get beaten every day for being late.”
He chose Mona Lisa to highlight the origins of the first rickshaw in Pakistan. “It was first used to transport garbage and then turned into a common mode of transport.” Another motivation was to give recognition to rickshaw painters, who don’t get enough acknowledgement for their art.
Also exhibiting is Zahra Malkani, and while her style is radically different, both artists worked along the lines of popular art. Malkani’s work consists of suggestive images of female dancers, inspired from “mujrah” videos on YouTube. One particular painting, for example, titled ‘Ek Punjaban’, shows a woman gyrating in front of a banner advertising remedies for male virility. By merely focusing on these subjects, her work highlights the use of the internet as means to promote the sexual exploitation of women with a tinge of irony.
Malkani’s masculine metaphor then spirals out into airplanes, Kalashnikovs and crescents in order to take on a larger narrative of displacement, strife and extremism.
“Both artists are working with images that we are familiar with and see almost every day,” explained Nafisa Rizvi, the curator.
The prices ranged between Rs12,000 and Rs30,000, which was reasonable, according to pop art enthusiast, Nazia Jaffery.
“Street Credo - a discourse on popular culture and its significance in establishing societal structures” will continue till November 10.
1. Mohan Das, Italy ki Shahzadi, 2011 Acrylic on Canvas 14x14 inches
2. Mohan Das, Italy ki Shahzadi, Sindh kay godh mein 2011 Acrylic on Canvas 14x14 inches
3. Mohan Das,My Heroes 2011 Acrylic on Canvas 14x14 inches
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2011.
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