It’s always very exciting to be able to attend exhibitions by Pakistani artists who have managed to put themselves, and the country, on the global art map. They bring with them a perspective which has been afforded to them due to their unique vantage point. This is also often coupled with a longing for home because, perhaps, they’ve had to reflect upon their identity more than others.

Celebrated artist Rasheed Araeen recently showcased some of his works at an exhibition titled ‘Islam and Modernism’ at the VM Art Gallery in Karachi. Araeen is an artist, writer and the founder of the art journal Third Text (based out of London) and Third Text Asia (based out of Karachi).

Despite his initial training as civil engineer, Araeen began his foray into art in 1953 and quickly gained prominence. He eventually moved to London in 1964. A year later, he helped pioneer the making of minimalist sculptures in the UK. He is now known as one of the most important and earliest post-war minimalist artists of the UK. Araeen has also exhibited at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including the Tate Modern in London and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Rasheed Araeen’s recent exhibition in Karachi was a reminder of why his artwork has been so highly regarded for years

Araeen’s exhibition at the VM Art Gallery shared its name with a book the artist recently wrote. ‘Islam and Modernism’, both the book and the exhibition, aim to challenge the dominant theories of modern art, which are currently very Eurocentric and do not consider the unique perspective and impact of Islam on different communities around the world and, as a result, on art.

Through his artwork, Araeen argues that art from the Muslim world can both express the spirit of Islam and also be considered modern at the same time. However, it is also evident that there is a dire need for the Islamic world to establish its own artistic institutions and bodies that can promote and patronise the arts as well.

Araeen’s exhibition displayed selected paintings from his ‘Homecoming’ series. The colour palette he used for these works seemed to be inspired by or modelled on the works by celebrated Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. It featured an assortment of vivid colours painted with geometric precision, reminiscent of Islamic art and the Kufic script. In some of the untitled pieces, Araeen presented an abstract depiction of some of his calligraphic works in this series.

This was one of the most captivating aspects of his work. When you stepped back from the artwork and viewed it from a distance, you could see the different sections of the paintings morph into one symbiotic whole containing, quite clearly, Araeen’s calligraphic work. All of his paintings contained elements of calligraphy, depicted at varying stages and through different perspectives.

There was an undeniable sense of celebration and joy in these larger-than-life artworks which popped with colour and exuberance. As a result, the walls of the VM Art Gallery were brought to life by the rich, vibrant hues that Araeen used in his paintings.

‘Islam and Modernism’ was exhibited at the VM Art Gallery, Karachi, from April 4-20, 2023

Published in Dawn, EOS, April 23rd, 2023