Modern reality: Seven deadly sins take on the form of artistic visualisation

Curator says he is trying to push artists, viewers to reflect on the uncomfortable societal truths.

KARACHI:

Artists gave a new spin to the centuries-old concept, the seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinals sins -  wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony - at an installation exhibition at Koel gallery.

“The idea of art is broader than paintings and craft,” said curator Arshad Faruqui on the opening night on Friday. Actress Samina Peerzada explained, “Different facets of art have been presented under one roof because all creativity is a part of expression. We use different mediums to express ourselves.”

According to the curator, he was trying to push artists and viewers to reflect on the uncomfortable societal truths. Faruqui had collaborated with sculptor Seema Nusrat on a project titled, ‘Gathari’ - a symbol for sloth. In the idiosyncratic sculpture, there were several small bundles placed on a shelf. “Instead of sorting out and confronting their feelings and emotions, slothful persons wrap them up to deal with them later,” he said. The sculpture had a melancholic characteristic to it as it showed that the burden of a slothful person goes on for eternity.

Architect Raza Zahid chose to collaborate with his childhood friend, Pronit Nath, from Bombay. “The idea to work with Nath was interesting as our two countries are stuck in the eternal battle of wrath,” said Zahid, adding that the physical distance influenced the joint interpretation as they communicated through email and telephone. “Our work is inspired by the John Steinbeck’s book ‘Grapes of wrath’. Wrath is a continuous process. There are mutations, and sometimes it shows its external face by exploding.”

The intricate black installation showed that the depth and dimensions of wrath, the black spots on the floor are symbolic of the overflowing emotion which cannot be contained. He added that there was a need for a permanent public space to promote contemporary art.”



Samir Sadrudin and Naheed Mashooqullah, duo architects, showcased the literal and figurative representation of lust in a five-minute film and showing an installation of charpoy with a white crumpled sheet. “God created man and woman to procreate. Lust is a byproduct,” Sadrudin said. Mashooqullah added that lust was a journey full of anguish and pain. “In our society, it is a taboo emotion. The question we need to ask is why is lust sinful when it is a natural feeling?” asked Mashooqullah.

Architect Usman Khan in collaboration with his firm, Impact Design International, presented the sin of pride, which he said was a major sin and all other sins branch out of it.

Architect Rashid Rasheed, artist RM Naeem, and an interior designer Sadia Rasheed, worked on the installation for envy. Rashid said that in our culture, peppers are used to ward off evil intentions.  “The pepper sculpture shows the metamorphosis of an envious person over time. The green peppers turn red with time and finally rot, manifesting the consuming quality of envy as it eats away the person from inside,” he said.

Renowned author Mohsin Hamid and architect Omar Hassan showed their take on the sin of gluttony. “The piece alludes to the illusion of consumption, as space is trying to consume itself,” Hassan said. According to Hamid, the idea of gluttony was difficult to conceptualise and the installation evolved overtime. “Art scene is booming, but there is a gap as the general public’s access to art is limited.”

Graphic designer Sara Chapra and architect Omar Omari said greed was relatable to the current political situation in Pakistan. Their installation McPakistan presented the corruption in Pakistan, which is sucking the blood of the nation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2013.