Muhammad-Imran Qureshi Moderate Enlightenment

cm 19 x 13

Trained at the Academy of Art of Lahore in Pakistan, Imran Qureshi dedicated himself to studying the Mughal miniature, an ancient and refined traditional Indian technique. With this he created a series of works called “neo-miniatures”, in which the original technique is reinterpreted and contextualized in contemporary reality. In addition to watercolors and gouache on small pieces of paper, the artist has created large paintings, and site-specific installations for museums and cultural institutions such as "And They Still Seek the Traces of Blood" (2016), made for the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg in Denmark or the commission for the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of New York (2013). In 2013, Qureshi was selected as artist of the year by Deutsche Bank. The series of watercolors entitled "Moderate Enlightenment", of which this work is a part, refers to the attempt by the Pakistani government to eliminate the negative image of Islamic fundamentalism, enhancing more moderate and reassuring aspects of the Muslim religion. Rather than allude to the political and social tensions in the country, in fact, the artist portrays the Mullahs in intimate and meditative moments: while they rest under the shade of a tree, walk, or do gymnastics. The accurate description of the details accompanies the two-dimensional representation of the image, while the wasli paper support consisting of thin sheets glued and polished, guarantees a particularly transparent and glossy effect. The use of watercolor and the choice of vivid colors accentuate the idyllic atmosphere of the scene.

No

Q. Mirza, “Imran Qureshi”, Flash Art International, XXXVI, 228, January-February, 2003, p. 119; B. Pietromarchi, F. Hutte, (eds.), Imran Qureshi Deutsche Bank’s “Artist of the Year” 2013, exhibition catalogue (Rome, MACRO-Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma), Rome 2013; Imran Qureshi: artist of the year 2013, exhibition catalogue (Berlin, Deutsche Bank Kunsthalle), Ostfildern 2013; S. Wagstaff, I. Alteveer, N. Najat Haidar (eds.), Imran Qureshi. The Roof Garden Commission, exhibition catalogue (New York, Metropolitan Museum), New York 2013; S. Toft, X. Geroulanos, A. Sadik, Imran Qureshi. Idea of Landscape, exhibition catalogue (Aalborg, Kunsten Museum), Aalborg 2016.

Foto Patrizia Tocci

Donation by Claudia Gian Ferrari

Work on Paper