Written by: Muhammad Hamza
Posted on: March 25, 2025 | 
| 中文
The Quiet Gathering II by Kashif Ahmed
It is said that food is the language of love, and so are a few words, carefully compiled into stanzas we call a poem.
Numaishgah brought together a group of talented craftsmen and artists who explored the bridge between food and text in their works, a connection that feels sacred and holy, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan.
The patience and practice that hunger demands, and the desire to craft meaning from a few words, never truly go to waste. Some find themselves navigating a delicate balance between life and food, while for some, it becomes a coping mechanism, and for others it is a way to create and express love.
The varied forms and structures of food and text are portrayed by the following artists, each capturing the essence of Food/Text, reflecting the intricate relationship between the physical and the symbolic. They urge us to consider not just what we consume, but how we consume, and how these acts shape both our collective and individual journeys, as curator Irfan beautifully explains about this exhibition:
Tins of familiar fizzy drinks are embroidered with thread in a cross-stitch pattern, creating a mosaic of the everyday, yet underneath it all is a quiet reminder of decay that never quite arrives for these materials. What does decay in the organic thread, destined to decompose. The intricate stitching on metal tins speaks volumes of skill and finesse.
Untitled by Amjad Ali Tunio
A tender arrangement of fruit, half-eaten, some waiting to ripen into full color. Soft hues interact with the viewer, drawing them into both pieces. The subtle background lends an illusion of softness, wrapping the fruit in a quiet, textured glow. Every detail speaks, miniature expressions of color blending with low light, making each curve shimmer.
A wordplay that feels like a sharp nudge and a reality check, a reminder that provokes viewers to ground themselves and stay humble in their prayers. Forgiveness begins on the knees, but first comes a prayer stripped of emotion, laid bare.
Prayer by Anaya Kareem
A revival of the long-lost art of perforation, demanding precision and clarity. It becomes both text and image, crafted by the needle. Her voice moves through her fingers, puncturing the sheets again and again, tracing the rhythm of her mind. A unique blend of modernity and tradition, stylizing text with subtle, tactile interaction.
The kitchen holds all the flavors of your food, but the dirty dishes piling up in the sink become a reflection of everything left pending in life. And yet, sometimes, washing those dishes turns into a cathartic act. It is not always a fun job, but it remains a simple, old-fashioned way to keep your space and maybe yourself, tidy. The artist portrays the sink in all its messy glory: the chaos of life distilled into one basin, balanced by the fleeting flavors that give us a few moments of joy.
Sink by Ayesha Abbas Khan
Mixed media breathes vintage miniature art back to life in a tablet format that demands attention. It captures the slow aging of art itself, pulling viewers closer, urging them to search for history hidden in every stroke and bruise.
Plates filled with soft structures of food, colorful, full of life and yet, not edible. The 3D effect pulls you in, grasping the essence of life and its inevitable decay. Food does too. A humble reminder: decaying matters, and we’re not made of stone. The human heart wrestles with questions of life, but somehow finds answers in the natural world around us.
Feast for the Eyes by Marwah Waqar
A glimpse into what still life truly holds, a quiet act of remembrance. A wooden slab becomes a canvas of divine elements, though it appears almost empty, marked only by shadows. And yet, it exists, and that is enough. A lingering phrase echoes: “not, not art.”
As delicate as a loaf of bread, yet still subjected to the human urge to press, to test its softness and to check its freshness. The message is simple: no matter how soft you are, there are moments you’ll crave the protection of bubble wrap, a shield from uncalled-for hurt. Human nature rests in a heart that longs for peace and a mind that wants the heart to stay safe.
Bread in a Bubble Wrap by Zeenat Khan
The world speaks its heart through the language of love and passion, and often, it finds those feelings reflected in the flavors of life. Whatever we consume, the language is complex yet delicate, demanding honesty. After all, your second heart is your gut and the feelings it stirs assure you of the truth.
This exhibition makes the most of that delicate charm of food and text woven together. Every artist offers their own language through their creative process, laying their hunger bare. A delightful, thoughtful experience and a reminder that neither the gut nor the eyes can lie.
Organic Impressions III by Sajid Amiri
Dine and Whine by Mikael Attaullah Bhurgri
Chinese Chips Date by Wanya Hanif
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