They Shimmer Still

The Shimmer Still (2012) was installed on Slipway 1 at Cockatoo Island for the 18th Biennale of Sydney (2012)

Artist Statement
My interest lies in the investigation of the traditional Mughal and Persian miniature painting from the sub-continent. Away from its pure form, it moved to abstract imagery in my work and also dealt with my political, social and personal concerns. In this manner, the work was able to manifest its contemporary concerns, while at the same time resulting in the exploration of its formal aspect on various levels. It broke boundaries and provided a voice to my language, while still adhering faithfully to the aesthetics of this traditional genre. In the last few years, what has emerged with great clarity is my deep interest, in formalising a dialogue in my practice between the idea of life and its destruction through the representation of foliage – referring back the historic miniatures of the Kangra and Basholi schools. Applying the same principle to my site-specific installations, I have always tried to create a meaningful dialogue between my own vocabulary and the architecture and location. The scale, medium and imagery of the work are distinct from the traditional miniature painting. This is due to its abstract expressionist nature that goes against this very technique, which is rooted in a very specific set of principles. There exists a strong sense of bridging two different approaches and therefore these are then experienced in a completely novel manner.