A Visual Tapestry of Heritage, Power, and Cultural Memory
At Canvas Gallery in Karachi, artist Sayeda M. Habib presented Fractured Images, a compelling solo exhibition that bridges centuries of artistic tradition and modern visual language. The collection showcased 27 distinctive works that reinterpreted ancient themes and aesthetics through modern narratives, making for a thought-provoking engagement with history, power, and identity.
One standout piece, titled “Shiva’s Dilemma,” features a throne of gold woven into daily newspaper clippings — an empty symbol of authority watched over by handmaidens. Adjacent to this symbol of power is the god Shiva, entwined in a private moment with his lover. Through this juxtaposition, Habib offers a subtle critique of authority, intimacy, and cultural continuity. Her signature use of mixed media — including collage, gouache, acrylic, ink, and newspaper on canvas and wasli — imbues each work with layered meaning and tactile complexity.
Tracing Roots: Artistic Lineage and Learning
Habib’s creative journey began early and took shape through formal training at the Slade School of Art, followed by a rigorous academic program at the Prince’s School of Traditional Art in London. Her scholarly and personal explorations span prehistoric cave art to the classical traditions of India, Persia, and Tibet, as well as Western schools of painting — a multicultural tapestry she skillfully weaves into her visual lexicon.
In previous exhibitions at Canvas Gallery, she has explored themes of gender, resilience, and the urban social fabric — notably portraying Karachi’s street children and layered graffiti messages with a raw and empathetic lens.
Symbolism and Satire: Modern Icons in Ancient Form
The artist continues to challenge expectations in works like “Homage to Bidpai,” where a regal golden emblem sits guarded by a monkey amid a dreamlike setting. In “Punctuation of Time,” clowns cavort around a vacant throne, evoking political spectacle, while nearby monkeys tussle and a uniformed drummer keeps time. These works are executed as diptychs, triptychs, wooden reliefs, and sculptural elements, reflecting a deeply embedded narrative complexity.
Another piece, “The Deep Dig,” features a boat adrift on a sea of newsprint, anchoring the viewer in present-day chaos. A striking installation depicting a family of three, titled “Unity, Faith, Discipline”, critiques national slogans and their lived realities. Habib poses a reflective question through this piece: “What have we to do with sword?” — encouraging deeper introspection on societal values.
Conclusion: Past and Present in Constant Dialogue
With Fractured Images, Sayeda M. Habib offers more than visual storytelling — she opens a critical space for audiences to engage with cultural memory, power structures, and spiritual symbolism. Her works remain rooted in tradition but unafraid to interrogate and reframe it, making her exhibition a landmark in contemporary Pakistani art.
Source Attribution:
Adapted and rephrased from the original article “Broken Tales” by Marjorie Husain, published in Dawn Sunday Magazine, May 22, 2016.
Source: Broken tales – Dawn