Realities of life: Two artists endeavour to uncover ‘Absolute Truth’

Exhibition at IVS Gallery to continue till September 21

KARACHI: The Indus School of Art and Architecture (IVS) Gallery is hosting an exhibition by two artists, titled the 'Absolute Truth'.

The works by emerging artists Ehsan Memon and Arslan Farooqui highlight the staggering realities of life. "Through their work, Farooqui and Memon are not searching for truth outright, but exposing to us a world that was, is and can be," reads the press statement of the event.

Memon takes inspiration from Azra Abbas's poem Aik Roti Tak Pohanchnay Kay Liye [Just to Get a Piece of Bread] and predominantly focuses on the image of a naan.

He believes that all the world's ills erupt because of single piece of bread. This Earth revolves around earning one's bread in this world. Your own fame and money does not matter if you have nothing to eat, he explained.

The image of naan makes its appearance in Memon's fiber-glass sculpture, oil on canvas paintings and it is also projected as a moon in a video installation.

Speaking about the video installation, he said "When you sight the moon in the sky, it marks Eid celebrations however this holds no meaning for a poor man whose happiness revolves around making ends meet and feeding his family."

It is a "teasing point" if you ridicule someone for his earnings, he remarked. Memon comes from a lower middle class background in Lahore and completed his degree in painting from National College of Arts (NCA) in 2015.

On the other hand, Farooqui while toying with historical images retold stories long forgotten, with digital animation to inspire viewers.



Farooqui bases his work on 'edumation' (educating someone through animation). He translates a bunch of historical paintings into a series of digital animation.

"With movement I disrupt static spaces from the immobility of wasli, stimulating a sentiment lost to the fixed masterpieces. I see it as a map through which history passes," he writes in his artist's statement.

His notable animations included those of Zulekha seducing Joseph, the mythical Phoenix and Joseph being rescued from an empty cistern by the Egyptians.

A 2016 graduate from NCA, Farooqui claims he found stark inspiration in the work of Italian artist Rino Stefano Tagliafierro.

The event was curated by Seher Naveed, who said, "The exhibition here showcases works of two artists in both of which there is manipulation in the work. In the map sculpture it looks like real naan has been used, but it is a fiber glass creation. So many people stop to ask if the bread is real."

Speaking about Farooqui's work, she said "the moving imagery evokes one's thought-process of understanding the entire miniature painting. So in 'The Absolute Truth' you do not see forms of deception, but what really lies through."

The show will continue till September 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2016.