ISLAMABAD: A curious mind explores new horizons, searches for the possibilities in the universe, holds enough courage to recognise the flaws and weaknesses within self and outer world.

This perfectly depicts the journey of Safwan Bashir. Through his new body of work the artist has tried to reflect on complex issues and connect the dots, working patiently for two years.

In his 18 large-sized paintings based on verses from the holy Quran in watercolour, gudrung and gold leaf on arches sheet, Safwan has juxtaposed conflicting things such as darkness and light, hope and despair, belief, humanity, destruction of nature and urban agglomeration.

The show titled ‘Abd – A Blessed Devotee’ jointly curated by Dr Arjumand Faisel and Irfan Dahri, a visual artist and educator, was opened by Atif Raees Khan, the CEO of LMK Group, at Gallery 6.

“According to Safwan, after memorising the holy Quran, many questions arose in his mind. After reading and understanding the holy book, he went out in search of answers to these questions and found some verses that helped him return to God and the result was create a fabulous work,” reads the curators’ note.

“This is a very unique artwork,” commented Dr Arjumand in his introductory remarks.

Having specialised in miniature painting, Safwan observes and analyses the ways how everything contributes to form the shape and nature of others.

His highly symbolic and iconic miniatures take their inspiration from the holy Quran, its interpretations, social constructs and human behaviour.

The paintings such as ‘Believer II’, Ajr (reward) series, ‘Miracle’, ‘Contentment’, ‘Awakening’, ‘New Era’, ‘Saraab’ (Mirage) ‘Long Night’ and ‘Void’ are distinguished not only by their large sizes but also the powerful concepts well executed with meaningful vocabulary, images and lines and semicicular design.

Commenting on the artwork, Dr Arif Azad, the author of Thinkers, Dreamers and Doers, said it was a good thing to create faith-inspired art. Although in the West, too, churches have arts and images inspired by faith, there is a special kind of finesse in them.

“However, there are some problems with faith-inspired art. Arguably in this instance, you don’t know it’s faith-inspired art until the artist explains it.

“There are some paintings that can be interpreted differently from that of the artist’s concept,” he said.

Noted artist Irfan Gul Dahri, who has curated the exhibit with Dr Arjumand Faisel, said the artist seemed to be in a continuous struggle.

He must understand that nature, Divine, the planet and humankind are going through a continuous process of creation, Mr Dahri added.

About the artist’s style and colour, Mr Dahri said he had used two palettes, one was dark and the other, white. “We usually associate black with the dark side of the past, white colour symbolises hope, life and progress. Contrast and pair are important for life,” he concluded.

The show will continue till Feb 14.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2023