Daily Times

Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac presents The Seeming Endless Path of Memory, an exhibition of international award winning artist Imran Qureshi’s new work, in Paris, France.

Imran Qureshi’s practice is rooted in the tradition of 16th Century Mughal miniature art, encompassing figurative and abstract works on paper, painting and site-specific installation. Indeed, the exhibition titled The Seeming Endless Path of Memory, along with the titles of the works on display, echo the words of poet and writer Faiz Ahmad Faiz which are prevailing throughout Qureshi’s work. They reveal various social and cultural connotations, and subtly reflect the threat of violence as a continuous motif.

Resonating throughout the exhibition is the artist’s exploration of the infinite through the figure of the fold: the screen-like structure of his panel painting with dark layers of red or blue gradually transforming into light gold, the subtle changes of tonality appearing as one continuous course of action. Elsewhere, Qureshi is drawing upon the tradition of action painting by welcoming gravity and improvisation into the artistic process: through direct physical engagement with the canvas, the act of painting becomes a performative part of the painting’s expression. Throughout Qureshi’s practice, the artist reflects on the symbolic meaning of numbers.

The exhibition is further featuring a prominent series of miniature paintings depicting the Story of Two through finely painted trees that show a subtle unity and separation, akin to arteries of life juxtaposed against the self-portraits taking position of sole observer.

In various works throughout this exhibition the artist is illustrating the historical idea of heaven in opposition to violence and nature, an idea that proves crucial in the understanding of Qureshi’s artistic universe.

Qureshi’s works are modulated through a socio-political reflection on the precariousness and inherent violence of the contemporary world. Ultimately, whether presented in large-scale or in miniature formats, his works tend towards an aesthetic, religious and spiritual inquiry on the proximity of creation and destruction and recreation in all aspects of life – engaging the viewer on both a visceral and spiritual level.

Qureshi lives and works in Lahore, Pakistan and teaches miniature painting at the National College of Arts. He is the recipient of the Asian Art Game Changer Award and the first Pakistani recipient of the Medal of Arts Award.

Qureshi is renowned for his site-specific paintings, installations and videos created in the style of Indo-Persian miniature painting as a means to explore contemporary socio-political themes.

His work constitutes a unique synthesis of traditional motifs and techniques with current issues. Qureshi has exhibited internationally, including at The Curve, Barbican Centre, London; the 55th Venice Biennale; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the 10th Sharjah Biennial and Asia Society Museum, New York.

The Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac was founded in 1981 by the Austrian gallerist Thaddaeus Ropac and has since specialised in International Contemporary Art.

With its galleries in Paris Marais, Paris Pantin, Salzburg and London, the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac represents around sixty international artists including very established names, mid-career artists and emerging young talents, as well as several renowned estates.