Resilience and Hope
Two Wings to Fly, Not One: Aisha Khalid & Imran Qureshi, seeks to emphasize a multi-faceted view of Pakistan. The title of the show which, taken from a verse by the Sufi poet Rumi, refers to the necessity of balanced and equal forces—the parallel existence of adversity and joy. The art in the exhibition is subtle and thoughtful, but it is simultaneously politically charged and critically aware of current environments. It is embedded within the realities of living in a globalised world and navigating its dynamic social and political landscapes.
Aisha Khalid & Imran Qureshi, Two Wings To Fly, Not One, 2017
This is the very first work that Khalid and Qureshi have ever worked upon together, and they did so for this exhibition. It showcases each artist’s unique signatures and motivations; Khalid’s deeply saturated and precise geometric patterns, coupled with Qureshi’s vibrant splashes of vivid red. The work simultaneously has spontaneity and control, splatter and stroke. It is the ideal combination of the individual approaches in this exhibition.
Two Wings to Fly, Not One: Aisha Khalid & Imran QureshiFoundation Art Divvy
Imran Qureshi, And They Still Seek Traces of Blood, 2017
Imran Qureshi, And They Still Seek Traces of Blood, 2017 at the National Art Gallery, was built with the help of art students from Universities in Peshawar and Quetta who came to assist the artists. This work embodies Qureshi’s use of red and the motivation behind much of his art. The work is a physical representation of utilizing hope and vigour to create a new form, out of violent and tragic circumstances. Many thanks to the World Bank in Pakistan for assisting with this particular part of the exhibition.
Aisha Khalid, You Have Set Me Apart, 2017
This spectacular tapestry hangs in the centre of Khalid's gallery. One half of the piece has been embroidered with gold plated pins and the other half with steel pins, representing the loss of splendour due to violence.The work has been produced by the continuous repetition of gestures and motifs.
Midnight Garden (2017) by Imran QureshiFoundation Art Divvy
All is Gray When the Black is Washed Away (2015) by Aisha KhalidFoundation Art Divvy
When We Thought of You – You Were Not There When We Thought of You – You Were Not There by Imran QureshiFoundation Art Divvy
Floral sprays representing hope and life are prevalent throughout Qureshi’s paintings, and the colour red has become a subject of its own in his works, powerfully pulsating within his paintings.
See How the Dark of Night is Red (2017) by Imran QureshiFoundation Art Divvy
Come Then, It’s Time to Come Back Home Now (2017) by Imran QureshiFoundation Art Divvy
Imran Qureshi, Come Then, It’s Time to Come Back Home Now, 2017 - Qureshi said creating this site specific installation piece in his home country was a special experience for him.
I Am and I Am Not (2017) by Aisha KhalidFoundation Art Divvy
Aisha Khalid, I Am and I Am Not, 2017
This piece is an ode to the artistic process of creating and was Khalid's first performance. The artist invited the audience to watch her at work, whilst accompanied by Sufi musicians.
When I Thought of You – You Were Not There (2017) by Imran QureshiFoundation Art Divvy
Pakistani Miniature Movement
Khalid and Qureshi have each protected and honed a unique style of creating contemporary miniature art. They have been instrumental in developing and popularizing this ancient art form, which has been inspired by Turkish, Mughal and Persian practices of painting. Specific signature motifs are repeated through the works in this exhibition, linking them together.
Aisha Khalid, Two Wings to Fly, Not One, 2015Foundation Art Divvy
Layered arabesques feature prominently in Khalid’s paintings. These geometric forms create optical illusions of deep, swirling vortexes and hypnotic spirals. The recurring and rhythmic nature of her movements, while painting, becomes meditative for the artist.
Out of Blue (2017) by Imran QureshiFoundation Art Divvy
At the Circle's Centre (2017)Foundation Art Divvy
Aisha Khalid
Aisha Khalid (b. 1972, Faisalabad, Pakistan) graduated from the National College of Arts, Lahore in 1997 and completed her post-graduate degree Fine Art degree from Rijksakademie, Amsterdam in 2003. Khalid was schooled in classical miniature painting and has become a leading figure in developing the contemporary miniature.
She is one of the few artists to experiment with large-scale painting and abstraction and has also worked with video and textiles. Khalid received the Alice Award (artist book category) in 2012, and was a finalist for the Jameel Art Prize in 2011, winning the People’s Choice Award in 2011.
Midnight Garden (2017) by Imran QureshiFoundation Art Divvy
Imran Qureshi
Imran Qureshi (b. 1972, Hyderabad, Pakistan) graduated from the National College of Arts, Lahore in 1993. He is one of Pakistan’s leading figures in developing the contemporary miniature painting.
Qureshi has been the recipient of several prestigious accolades. In 2017 he was awarded the US International Medal of the Arts by the US State Department. In 2013 he was named Deutsche Bank’s Artist of the Year and in the same year, was invited to create the prestigious roof garden commission at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Two Wings To Fly, Not One
Aisha Khalid & Imran Qureshi
Curated by Zahra Khan
Courtesy of:
Aisha Khalid
Imran Qureshi
Foundation Art Divvy
National Art Gallery, PNCA
Photo credit: Atif Saeed and Kamran Saleem
Film credit: Jugni Productions
