
Forbidden
Thursday, January 28, 2010
By Sumaira Jajja
Karachi
Dark and disturbing, ‘Forbidden’, an ongoing exhibit by artist Irfan Gul at the ArtChowk Gallery, is an effort that reflects the innermost feelings of a person in a time when illogical restrictions seem to give every reasonable act a negative connotation.
With ample natural light filtering in as one walks through the spacious gallery space, it’s hard to avert the eyes from the surrealistic ‘Forbidden’ series hung on the walls.
Images of the human body contorted and bundled in the foetal position with limbs popping out from odd locations, at first glance the works seem like a Frankenstein fantasy.
Using pigments, acrylic and ink on wasli paper, Gul’s humans are caught up in their emotions. Amulets or ‘taweez’ make a frequent appearance representing the false hopes that we place in the animate and inanimate objects around us, ranging from humans to trees, thinking of them as our saviours. On the other hand, the textured backdrop or ‘soil’ gives way to the whole cycle of life after conception, something is considered too taboo to discuss in the society.
Some of the reactions at the gallery regarding Gul’s latest offering ranged from “disturbing” and “forceful” to “in your face” and “rivetting”.
Despite finding his work “unsettling”, noted artist Roohi Ahmed found Gul’s work to be impressive. “It has a certain quality that haunts you and the message that Gul is trying to get across actually does come to fore,” she said.
Another visitor to the gallery, Mehreen said, “You don’t get to see such works everyday. We place a lot of basic facts and emotions in the ‘forbidden’ category and it’s good to see that someone has finally taken a stand and come out.”
Talking about his latest body of work, Gul, an NCA alumnus and a faculty member, said that earlier on he tried to shelter his work from external influences. “I was in denial and tried being immune to whatever was taking place around me. However, a true artist absorbs whatever is happening in his surroundings and his work reflects that,” he said.
“When a bomb goes off, your children maybe safe but you fear for their safety. It’s something similar for me too. I have the same fears, apprehensions and angst like any other member of the society,” he said. The male figure that is dominant in Forbidden serves as a reflection of Gul and shows the ups and downs he has been through, adding, “I am a person, I am a part of the surroundings and I am society!”
“Look around. Wherever we are, things around us are becoming forbidden. You can’t go to a mosque to pray fearing for your life lest a bomber strikes. You can’t go to an educational institute due to security threats. Our faith and beliefs, the quest for knowledge, all have been turned into the proverbial forbidden fruit for us,” said an emphatic Gul as he summed up ‘Forbidden’.
Forbidden continues till 12th February at ArtChowk The Gallery.
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