‘Siraat-i-Mustaqeem’: Confusing ritual with reverence
The series is a reaction to ‘contradictory values: artist.
LAHORE:
‘Siraat-i-Mustaqeem: The True Path?’, a series by painter Ali Azmat that focuses on how religion is misinterpreted and distorted by people was displayed at The Drawing Room on Monday.
A graduate of the Punjab University (class of 1999), Azmat has 12 solo shows, national and international, to his credit.
The lack of freedom of speech, killings in the name religion, broken religious values and corruption are highlighted in Azmat’s work.
“I have named the show ‘The True Path?’ because it is in the name of this true path that we have destroyed our country,” said Azmat, adding that “contradictory values that are practiced all around us” inspired his exhibit.
All of the paintings are acrylic on canvas.
Professor Salima Hashmi describes Azmat’s latest body of work as a departure for him, “Azmat’s past work has been engaged with the world as he finds it,” she said. Hashmi attributed the change to the prevailing situation in Pakistan. “Perceiving hypocrisy, which underlies protestations of faith, he examines shallow ritual and empty conventions,” is how Hashmi described Azmat’s work on display.
Hashmi said that in his work, Azmat had chosen to confront “claims of piety” but without transgressing certain boundaries. Even though Azmat does not “reveal” the Holy Book, he refers to the people who, instead of understanding the Quran’s message, are content with celebrating what is apparent. “The protocol of kissing, decorating, adorning can be confused with reverence for meaning,” Hashmi said.
She called Azmat’s images fresh, “The cloth covering which protects the Word can itself embody pretence and insincerity. The hands which handle the sacred are encased in plastic gloves, disposable items which can be shed in a moment. The lips which kiss the Book, can easily lie and defame.”
“Aesthetically, his work is mind blowing,” said Sanam Taseer, the owner of The Drawing Room. “The idea of disillusionment could go either way. His subtle expression of the human condition makes his work outstanding.”
“Because of the subtle criticism on the hollow and ritualistic affiliation with religion, Ali Azmat’s message is strong,” said Dr Khalid Zaheer, the dean of faculty of arts and sciences at University of Central Punjab. “The prominent feature of Azmat’s work is that it revolves around the Holy Quran whose deep reverence is prominently claimed by the believer but whose call for moral refinement is almost completely ignored by him.”
None of Azmat’s works from his latest collection are for sale. The exhibition also features two of his paintings from a previous collection, ‘Moorat’, which explored the subculture of eunuchs, and are for sale.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2011.
‘Siraat-i-Mustaqeem: The True Path?’, a series by painter Ali Azmat that focuses on how religion is misinterpreted and distorted by people was displayed at The Drawing Room on Monday.
A graduate of the Punjab University (class of 1999), Azmat has 12 solo shows, national and international, to his credit.
The lack of freedom of speech, killings in the name religion, broken religious values and corruption are highlighted in Azmat’s work.
“I have named the show ‘The True Path?’ because it is in the name of this true path that we have destroyed our country,” said Azmat, adding that “contradictory values that are practiced all around us” inspired his exhibit.
All of the paintings are acrylic on canvas.
Professor Salima Hashmi describes Azmat’s latest body of work as a departure for him, “Azmat’s past work has been engaged with the world as he finds it,” she said. Hashmi attributed the change to the prevailing situation in Pakistan. “Perceiving hypocrisy, which underlies protestations of faith, he examines shallow ritual and empty conventions,” is how Hashmi described Azmat’s work on display.
Hashmi said that in his work, Azmat had chosen to confront “claims of piety” but without transgressing certain boundaries. Even though Azmat does not “reveal” the Holy Book, he refers to the people who, instead of understanding the Quran’s message, are content with celebrating what is apparent. “The protocol of kissing, decorating, adorning can be confused with reverence for meaning,” Hashmi said.
She called Azmat’s images fresh, “The cloth covering which protects the Word can itself embody pretence and insincerity. The hands which handle the sacred are encased in plastic gloves, disposable items which can be shed in a moment. The lips which kiss the Book, can easily lie and defame.”
“Aesthetically, his work is mind blowing,” said Sanam Taseer, the owner of The Drawing Room. “The idea of disillusionment could go either way. His subtle expression of the human condition makes his work outstanding.”
“Because of the subtle criticism on the hollow and ritualistic affiliation with religion, Ali Azmat’s message is strong,” said Dr Khalid Zaheer, the dean of faculty of arts and sciences at University of Central Punjab. “The prominent feature of Azmat’s work is that it revolves around the Holy Quran whose deep reverence is prominently claimed by the believer but whose call for moral refinement is almost completely ignored by him.”
None of Azmat’s works from his latest collection are for sale. The exhibition also features two of his paintings from a previous collection, ‘Moorat’, which explored the subculture of eunuchs, and are for sale.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2011.