KARACHI: Are history and memory synonymous? The answer is ‘no’, for the reason that memory has a personal connotation whereas history is to do with society’s collective recollection of events. However, both can be mutually reinforcing when an individual starts to look back at history as an essential part of his or her being. Perhaps this is why artist S M Khayyam has titled his latest exhibition of artworks Certainty, which can be seen at the Chawkandi Art Gallery. He doesn’t doubt what he feels.

The show is an interesting study of the characters and ambience that art lovers have not met or experienced but are well aware of. It sounds simple. It’s not. Khayyam, by virtue the finesse in his art practice, has focused on creating an atmosphere that despite having the bygone-days touch is readily relatable! The artist expands on the subject in his statement: “My work talks about the past, present, and the future once at all. The people in my paintings were once real faces of the people. By repainting and re-contextualising these faces, there seems to be an underlying commentary of how histories and our ancestors have been buried in our subconscious and therefore exist in our present. Faded faces in my paintings provide a dichotomous experience, on one hand, they give the viewer the impression that they are unfinished, in-process and on the other hand the same imagery doubles as a representation of decay with fraying aged edges. I believe our memories rely upon histories and occurrences, which can dwell in either light or shadow. Few are vibrant and strong while others are faint and blurred…”

What can be more intriguing than to look at faces that one has never seen or met in person with a déjà vu feeling! Khayyam makes them identifiable by calling them ‘our ancestors’. It immediately connects the viewer to the stories that he’s trying to tell — for example, the stories of ‘Shah Jahan II’ and ‘Dara Shikoh’ (gouache, natural pigments, dry pigments, lapis lazuli, gold leaves on wasli paper). But the viewer has to pay closer attention to the way the artist is telling these tales; he is retelling them in his distinct, impressive style.

The show concludes on March 19.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2022