KARACHI: The 20th century’s political upheavals on a global scale have a lot to do with settlements — justified or otherwise. It is not a new phenomenon, though. In the history of mankind, settlements due to reasons ranging from mass exodus to small scale migrations have taken place. The subcontinent is no different. An exhibition of Shoaib Mahmood’s paintings titled Same As That, which opened at the Canvas Art Gallery on Wednesday, touches upon the subject with artistic grace.

In order to expand on the topic, the artist’s statement might help: “This series of paintings highlights the impact of South Asian settlements have had on the religion and culture of South Asia. Coming from a colonial background, we have a variety of cultural and religious influences. Over time, technology has massively impacted faiths and traditions to an extent where we feel our cultural norms and practices have evolved. My work reflects on the evolution and transformation of religion and culture through time and technology.”

In this short passage, Mahmood has packed a lot of things that need a bit of fleshing out. For example, the difference or one of the differences between culture and tradition is that the former delineates the shared characteristics or traits of a group of people while the latter highlights a group’s beliefs and behavioural patterns passed down from one generation to another. There’s a third factor ‘norm’ in the mix as well; that is, what society considers ‘normal’.

Mahmood, brings all these factors together nicely, without compromising their individual features. The viewer in untitled pieces (gouache and gold leaf on wasli) on display sees against a black background objects such as royal headgear, swords and even semblances of thrones, giving him a vivid sense of what has evolved and taken root in the subcontinent. What must not go unmentioned, though, is Mahmood’s remarkable art. There is refinement in his work which is rare. And that’s what makes his expression of the cultural transformation over the centuries pretty striking.

The exhibition concludes on April 22.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2022