Human interaction, portrayed by the past trauma and isolation of dysfunctional relationships in the aftermath of the recent law and order situation in Karachi, forms the main element of Karachi-based Moeen Faruqi’s 12 compositions exhibited on Tuesday at the Khaas Gallery.
Using the medium of acrylic on canvas, Moeen mixed media paintings and showcased the modern lifestyle of the cosmopolitan city, which has too many ups and downs over the recent years that ultimately deteriorated the relationship and changed the societal behaviour. The creation, discussion and living amidst the city’s atmosphere, therefore, create immediacy in the relationship to the art that is on the walls of Khaas Gallery titled ‘Kahaniyan’.
The rhythm, movement and iconography of Moeen Faruqi’s paintings are largely drawn from the energy of the metropolis. Most of the other works of the artist, surrounding his living and working space, speak of a similar kind of human angst that is familiar to his own paintings. His art collection has evolved out of a natural choice to acquire works that speak to him; some are closer to his own aesthetics and others relatively different, but when seen as a collective, it is the essence of the contemporary. The icons of large faces, fish, crow, bus, naked male figures and birds reflect that there is something always happening in the city and all characters are absorbing the happenings. Faruqi’s work is also rich in metaphor; he is an artist who enjoys titillating the observer’s curiosity with symbols. In the environment through his paintings, he leads the audience in raising questions and forming opinions of the subjects’ daily lives. Faruqi’s subjects appear self-conscious, vulnerable in a way that touches the observer.
By creating unreal situations, often humorous and witty but always haunting and thought provoking, the paintings bring into sharp focus each character’s distinct eccentricities, mirroring and celebrating unique and precious individuality – the one shown via painting ‘Unholy Night’. Moeen offers intriguing visual narratives to play with; stories viewers may interpret according to their own view of life. Talking to Pakistan Today, Faruqi said that his work the carried forward the experiments with large faces, which might be called ‘Variations on the Face’. “The idea is to project the human face onto a higher scale, to break it from a recognisable form, to ask the viewer to find new visual elements in an unfamiliar size. Also, by using very neutral, young faces, the work calls attention to the plastic, artificial nature behind the glorification of youthful appearances,” the artist said. “The narrative works in the show, such as ‘The Stars that Shine on Us’ and ‘Behind My Back’, shows my concern with creating stories, but stories that the viewers themselves must create,” the artist said at his third exhibition in the federal capital.
Moeen said these odd situations prompted the viewer to discover the bizarre nature of modern life and relationships. “A new element is the ‘Karachi Kahani work’, composed of nine small canvases, is homage to Karachi despite all its failings and successes,” the imaginative artist said, adding that the works on paper included ‘What’s a Life Between Friends’, which was a tribute to his brilliant young artist friend Asim Butt, who passed away not long ago. The exhibition will continue at Khaas Gallery House No 1, Street No 2, F-6/3, till November 15.
