Home Front 2

Through her lavishly painted found objects, Adeela Suleman contemplates humanity’s fascination with, and the continued presence of, violence across histories and geographies. The objects feature the techniques and motifs of South Asian miniature painting, and are inspired by a range of historical events, sites and artistic traditions from the Mughal courts to European medieval knights.

In the series ‘Home Front’ 2021, the balance of imagery and object here is upturned, with the object itself – designed to cut through flesh and bone – suggesting the violence absent from the image. Additionally, in contrast to the long and disparate histories featured on her plates and dishes, Suleman signals much more recent conflicts in these works, which affect a region closer to her home.