Written by: Sana Shahid
Posted on: September 04, 2023 | 
| 中文
Insomniac Adventures in Cozy Winter Nights
“Log Kia Kahen Ge?” (What will people say?) is a phrase commonly used in our society. It has acted as a constraint to the free growth of individuals and their artistic expression, with a negative impact on our culture. This is exactly what has been happening to Pakistan’s theater industry, and due to unnecessary bans and censors, the industry has suffered considerably!
Mohsin Shafi is a brilliant artist who has beautifully and subtly debated this idea through his works in his exhibition, ‘Theater of Absurdities’, at the Tanzara Art Gallery. Shafi has highlighted the issues of our society that are not only confined to the theater industry but are carried on from generation to generation. The exhibition is an amalgamation of surrealism, fantasy and metaphors of myths and taboos that co-exist and how they affect our lives.
We are nothing in between
‘Theatre of Absurdities’, is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged title which forces you to dive deeper and think beyond the perception of reality. With the help of surrealism, Shafi has created magic in the form of his artworks that have numerous layers juxtaposed with each other, including collages, assemblages, etchings, mono-prints, inkjet prints, watercolors, acrylics, pencils etc. Surrealism, a captivating and enigmatic art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, continues to captivate audiences worldwide with its dramatic and dreamlike artworks. The artist has created a world of his own, adding all these layers to create drama while challenging the norms and culture of our society in order to bring change. When these artworks come together in an exhibition, they are mesmerizing and invite viewers to experience the realms of the unknown and of the ambiguous.
Baraaye Shanakht
Besides the countless layers of the works, Shafi has also thought through the frames for each artwork, giving off a retro, classical and vintage vibe because of their vibrant colors, curvy and floral designs, and intricate details. It’s uncanny how these frames are not overpowering, instead creating a picture-perfect outcome that is beautiful to look at, even though the visuals highlight some difficult and harsh realities. “The frames are a mockery of all that is chaotic and hypocritical about the society”, quoted Mohsin Shafi. Coming to the titles, the artist has named the works based on various television series, dramas, poetry, movies and music lyrics. This shows the commitment of Shafi, who has paid attention to every detail, from developing the concept to creating visuals and choosing appropriate frames and titles.
Jhansi Ki Rani
‘A Suitable Boy’, as the title suggests, challenges the idea of Rishta (arranged marriage) culture in the society where one has to behave and sit appropriately to proceed with choosing their life partner, hiding all the imperfections and portraying a flawless picture to the other family. Rishta culture (arranged marriage) is a flawed custom that needs to be discouraged. However, there can be multiple connotations to this work. It also suggests how boys are expected to act and behave in a certain manner, and how they are judged if they behave any differently. The visual depicts a male figure with unknown features, wearing a nerdy green sweater with a red and white diamond pattern on it, over a traditional ensemble, the blue shalwar kameez, and a historical building on his head like a hat, portraying the net worth of the boy. The figure is surrounded by floral patterns and peacocks and the colour theme includes multiple tones and shades of blue and green with a tinge of red and pink. The cutout figure is elevated and adds a 3-dimensional dramatic aspect to the work.
A Suitable Boy
Another artwork truly depicting surrealism is, ‘Insomniac Adventures in Cozy Winter Nights’. It’s a dreamlike imagery having diverse elements, like a tiger sleeping in the middle surrounded by several figures in unique postures. The artwork depicts a night scene in hazy blues and greys with some reds and yellows. There are unimaginable layers in this work, and it takes a while to grasp all the tiny details. In front of a historical façade, the eyes are all over the floor forming the pattern of cobblestones and gazing upon the bright red female figure at the bottom left of the frame. She is wearing a traditional wedding couture that is beautifully laid out on the floor, making her the core of the work. This work is well-balanced and addresses some culturally contradicting visuals. The artist projects the inner human desires and dreams, but Shafi successfully shifts the focus to the red female figure and subtly depicts those bold visuals. That is the beauty of making a statement or commentary in a surrealistic manner.
Forget the butterflies, I feel the entire zoo in my stomach when I am with you!
Mohsin Shafi exposes the hypocrisy in our society and remains true to his work by stating some that have prevailed in our society for decades. Our society needs artists like him to eradicate these matters and bring change. Along with strong concepts, Shafi is an artist of outstanding caliber who has shown creativity, talent, and skill over the years. The show continues till the 14th of September and is worth a visit.
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