Artist MoShah combines Salvador Dalí’s surrealism Andy Warhol’s pop art into his paintings. PHOTO: PUBLICITY
When Salvador Dalí’s surrealism meets Andy Warhol’s pop art the result could be catastrophic — a whirlwind of colour and madness on a canvas is what one might expect. Hong Kong-based artist Mo Shah proved this wrong at the opening of the artist’s first solo show titiled “Transmission Eternal” at The Drawing Room Art Gallery last week.
Using a monochromatic theme, Mo Shah depicted his inner feelings using two very different techniques of two very different masters, Dalí and Warhol. A montage of symbolism, Mo Shah finds beauty in despair and grief and translates it into his art. “His paintings are a melting pot of cultural symbols,” said Sanam Taseer, the gallery owner. “There are elements from around the world and somehow they end up on paper as a cohesive whole.”
While studying finance at New York University, the artist confessed his passion for film, literature and art. "I have always been passionate about the arts and have experimented in many capacities," expressed Mo Shah. "From holding a DJ residency in lower Manhattan to being the Editor of Ego Magazine's Film & Music department, I have explored a lot."
His love for film led to his obsession with photography, which in turn became the primary medium of his recent collection priced between Rs30,000 to Rs45,000. "There are parts that I have shot and some parts that I have created using other mediums, after which i scanned and combined various elements to complete each piece,” explained the artist as he talked about his work. Mo Shah juxtaposed very strong symbols in very mundane scenarios, using monolith and pyramids to create a distance. He used these objects to interpret issues of diversity, history and sociology, and to a certain extent, space-time continuum.
He used traditional architectural monuments to depict the rift caused between eastern and western ideologies. “I am drawn especially to dark subject matters,” expressed Mo Shah and continued, “And that is what I have tried to create. There are images I shoot and incorporate from my travels around the world, which are used partly as commentary on what's going on around me.”
“Transmission Eternal” had a sense of serenity even in the chaos Mo Shah created, drawing in the viewer. From symbols such as that of the anti-Christ to the mushroom cloud effect on the day of judgement, the artist has a very bold perception of the way the world works around him. His comments on iconic game-changing historical moments were worth looking at. Mo Shah also beautifully summarised America’s historical debacles.
Mo Shah’s technique of using surreal symbols and controversial ideas made his collection groundbreaking. Inspired by pop artists of the ’60s, great works of art can be expected from this young artist.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2013.
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