One artist, One studio | Imran Qureshi

Anne Maniglier

Apr 14 2017

Born in Hyderabad, Imran Qureshi lives and works in Lahore, Pakistan. Like the majority of his fellow compatriots, Qureshi’s studies, research and artistic practice were largely influenced by the longstanding tradition of miniature art.

In 2001, Qureshi undertook an artist residency at Khoj (International artists association) in New Delhi, after which he began taking on more ambitious projects, recognizing that he work needed more space to be more demonstrative. This shift in his practice also saw Qureshi begin experimenting with performance and theater in his work.

In a post 9/11 climate, the world’s view of Pakistan has changed dramatically; perceiving it as a place of violence, associated with little more than sensationalist headlines.

In response to this, Imran Qureshi decides to speak of, and represent, the violence his country has been the victim of following new geopolitical deals approved by the neo-conservatives, including drone attacks, loss of civilian lives and discrimination. Qureshi’s works represent the victims of this violence, denouncing sectarian violence.

Quershi has always worked at his own pace, without the pressures of the art market: he’s an artists whose life revolves around his studio, and every work he produces has an incredibly strong aesthetic force, as well as a deep meaning behind it. Having moved to Lahore, Qureshi lives surrounded by his family, and teaches at the National College of Arts.

Since 2010, Qureshi has participated in several biennials and received numerous prize nominations. In 2011, his impressive installation Blessings upon the Land of my Love at the Sharjah Biennale received great attention, and allowed him to finally transcend “tradition” in the contemporary art world.

Represented by Thaddaeus Ropac — one of the world’s leading galleries — Imran Qureshi does a little bit of everything. He works on his own, answers to emails, personally takes care of the transport of his artworks, organizes journeys and most of all, shows an incredible enthusiasm for his work.

From the roof of New York’s Met, where he presented his installation And How Many Rains Must Fall Before the Stains Are Washed Clean, to the 2014 Nuit Blanche in Paris and to Islamabad, where he is currently showing at the National Gallery PNCA, Qureshi’s work reflects the artist’s desire to speak about what he knows best and to tell others about it.