PHOTO: EXPRESS
Curator Irfan Gul says Ghulam Hussain’s contemporary approach towards art making is more of a synthesis incorporating the sensibilities of subcontinent’s miniature painting and postmodern sculpture. “He weaves contemporary narratives into themes of culture and tradition to investigate high-craft versus low-craft,” he added.
Speaking about his artistic journey and inspiration process, Hussain - an NCA graduate - said his craft-based artwork mostly revolved around the passionate world of childhood memories such as his drawings, which filled his school notebooks.
His recent series of work shows his continued interest in basic shapes, vertical and horizontal lines.
Speaking of his style, Hussain said he preferred a humanistic approach to what makes a person happy, enriched and fulfilled. “This primitive, bold style imagery collaborates with intricate hand woven Wasli’s and my school note books,” he added.
“This transforms into interesting compositions which stimulate the viewer's imagination and exploration of one's own memories”, said Hussain, who hails from Hyderabad and lives in Lahore.
His latest work is also an evolution from his personal interaction with the works of Piet Mondrian (a Dutch painter) during visits to Museum Of Modern Art in New York a few years ago.
Hussain said he related himself with squares, rectangles and the stripes weaved together. This strong inspiration materialised into a series of work, which the artist identifies as ‘Taddo' , ‘Woven Narratives’ and a ‘Dialogue with Piet Mondrian’.
Hussain has exhibited his work in numerous shows nationally and internationally, including the 5th Beijing International Art Biennale 2012 at the National Art Museum of China and a solo exhibition in 2015 at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2017.
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