Mashing conspiracy with miniatures

We want to enhance the idea of the new world order for the viewer, say artists.

ISLAMABAD:

Three young Lahore-based artists quite literally brought the new world order to the capital on Tuesday. Hardcore traditionalists be warned, because their fresh take on miniature art isn’t just another case of trying too hard to be contemporary.

Shiblee Munir, Nuoreen Rasheed and Fahad Hameed’s work showcased at Rohtas Gallery under the title “Neo World Order” showcases 22 works on mixed media.

Munir, the grandson of famed miniature artist Ustaad Haji Sharif, is on a mission to take forward his rich heritage and uses miniatures as a means to reinvent. Using print media, Munir employs his own take on the subject. His painting of Queen Nurjehan uses Photoshop to digitise the popular queen. “As miniature artists we have to stick to the idealisation of beauty of the queen, yet being part of a long line of artists, it is a tradition to incorporate the current generation’s take on art,” Munir said.

Hameed, on the other hand, concentrates on incorporating the Jadwal border in different colours across the canvas of his work, with a Mughal princess peeking out from the background. His work is extremely individualistic and can be pointed apart from the rest. Considering he had a piece titled “Point to be noted”, the uniqueness of his work was indeed discernible. Rasheed uses thread and aluminium and also shows fascination with the delicate craft of weaving in his work.

On close inspection, one notices that all three artists are taking a jab at Illuminati conspiracies, with Rasheeds thread and aluminium forming the famous Illuminati chequered floor and Munir’s Mughal prince standing with one large eye. When asked, all three artists nodded in agreement, saying, “We want to enhance the idea of the new world order for the viewer,” Hameed said.

The exhibition continues till May 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2012.