Trapped in a world of war

Suleman’s exhibition brings conflict zones closer to the eye

KARACHI: Only the dead have seen the end of war - Plato.

Adeela Suleman's exhibition, 'What may lie ahead', at the Canvas Art Gallery in Clifton attempts to bring this message closer to home. Sculptures of soldiers during wartime, some headless, others sporting protective gear, attempt to depict the violence borne and meted by the human race throughout recorded history.





"Violence has been embedded in our local landscape," Suleman told The Express Tribune. War never left us, she said, pointing toward the sculptures of warriors from yesteryears and those camouflaged in contemporary uniforms. The former were headless forms, wielding swords and armour in their hands while the latter had their bodies covered with armour and ammunition - both appearances spoke the language of violence.

Suleman, who currently heads the Fine Arts Department at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, graduated from the same institute with a Bachelor's in Fine Arts. She is also the director and co-founder of the Vasl Artist's Collective in Karachi and has showcased her work in galleries across the world, including Aicon Gallery New York, Singapore Art Museum, Manchester Art Gallery and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, among others.



In her latest exhibition, Suleman attempts to explore the momentary and enduring chapters of life. The exhibition relates how the artist perceives the concept of war and violence around her. This she does through nine artworks, each of which proclaims war as a bitter reality that cannot be avoided or ignored. "We cannot hide or change the fact that we are living in a world of chaos and violence."



Artists use various materials to reflect their inspirations and convey their message. Suleman uses wood and metal to make her sculptures as she believes they are more interactive and give a realistic image to the soldiers. The contemporary soldiers are made out of wood carvings with wood staining and lacquer front and back, giving a perception of how close we are to war.



Suleman works with wood as an interactive surface to bring her visions to life. The life-like sculptures of soldiers portray a beautiful yet dreadful picture of a battlefield in which we all survive. "Just like other fascinations, people have started taking pleasure out of all these things [war and violence]."



The exhibits also include three postcards with landscapes painted on metal plates, one of which is titled, 'Whatever that is left', and appears to be torn into pieces. What catches the eye is what appears to be the blood of the soldiers, who have been killed trying to protect the beautiful landscapes depicted in one of the postcards. The soldiers are a reminder of the cost of protecting one's land and how bloodshed is inevitable.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2018.