KARACHI: They say, home is where the heart is. This can also be said about homeland. But in the last century and a bit, mass migrations caused mainly by political upheavals have pushed people to leave their countries of birth and shift to, what they believe, pastures green or safe havens. Most of the times, the travelling takes place by sea. The artist community is conscious of this process that has now taken root [the anti-immigration riots that unfolded in the UK recently are one of the socio-cultural corollaries of it]. A solo exhibition of Masuma Halai Khwaja’s artworks that’s underway at the Canvas Art Gallery is called All that glitters is not home.

While the focus here, as has been highlighted, is the concept of a place of one’s own, the artist associates it with a sparkle (read: glitter) that pleases the eye… momentarily. Let’s investigate why.

Masuma says, “My art practice explores pivotal points in recent history with a focus on South Asia. Informed by oral accounts and lived experiences I counter state fed narratives and unilateral textbook versions of history by addressing the psychological and sociological undercurrents of unrest and mass migrations, investigating their impact on languages, dress codes, religion and mindsets that have yet to shed post-colonial baggage. Migrations in the hope of betterment do not always live up to desired expectations. The Urdu term for expats and migrants Samundar paar harkens stories of my mother’s migration from Indian Gujarat to Karachi via sea.”

Now there’s a lot to examine here. The artist in a pretty strong voice has underlined narratives that have been offered as realities. She questions it. What also needs to be taken into account the personal angle to her line of questioning that features sea journey. This means that she knows certain things firsthand which lends authenticity to the whole creative exercise.

While all of this can be written about, it is Masuma’s powerful art, her oil and acrylic-on-canvas exhibits and textiles collages, that demand immediate attention. In them, the viewer can detect symbolism and imageries, used with a great amount of flair, which hint at her revisiting of colonial times and placing it with current trends in society. The series ‘When will be enough’, for example, hits hard at the core of the issue. It helps puts the message across nicely.

The show concludes on Aug 29.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2024