Cows, Cupcakes, Clowns & Par-Tea Time

‘My Glory Days’: An exhibition curated by Lariab Ahmad for the Dominion Gallery/The Colony in Lahore, Pakistan. On until June 3rd, 2022. Featuring Ammara Jabbar, Ayet Tanveer, Maryam Arsalan, Quratulain Dar, and Sidra Saleem. 

Ammara Jabbar 

Jabbar’s work is a Basquiat-esque socio-political digital print on canvas, perfectly mimicking a painting. It is chock-full of metaphors. The characters of a cow and a frog (with wings) represent the income gap comically. Dark humour may be present as the bull wears a fox-skin around its neck. The frog (with wings) owns the udder instead of the bovine – labour class being milked dry? Both characters are seen with objects – the bull with a broom and the frog (with wings and udder) with a pie with cream and a cherry on top. The illustration is made complete with a subtitle under it which reads, “The mighty will fall”. The work is made complete by the sculptural frame in which its displayed, perfected with a lifelike scoop of cream and a cherry on top. 

Dark humour may be present as the bull wears a fox-skin around its neck. The frog (with wings) owns the udder instead of the bovine – labour class being milked dry?

Ayet Tanveer 

Mastering textures created purely from paint and brush, Tanveer’s work features stuffed animals that look eerily animated, as if the artist breathed new life into them. The showstopper is a colossal pink bear that (literally) towers over the others given the painting’s large size. Its chessboard background complements the toy subject so splendidly that it practically jumps out at the viewers. However, parental guidance is advised, but only because children may attempt a heist. 

The showstopper is a colossal pink bear that (literally) towers over the others

Maryam Arsalan 

Having her incredible paintings of food displayed at several restaurants and galleries alike, Arsalan’s colourful and delectably gooey paintings are now a trademark that are coveted across Lahore and Karachi. We’re sure we’ll be seeing more of her work worldwide. We just called it. The frames are just as playful as the work they display exhibit. Children and adults alike may attempt a heist. 

We’re sure we’ll be seeing more of Maryam Arsalan’s trademark colourful and delectably gooey paintings worldwide 

Quratulain Dar 

At a height, among the blue skies standing tall and wide is an exalted lion-head on the body of a woman. The exalted mythical figure is a projection of greatness, as is suggested by the victorious pose and the garland around their neck on top of the yellow/gold shalwaar kameez. In its majestic and zoomorphic existence, the hybrid captivates and draws the viewer’s eye directly towards it. Sherni feels like a fitting title. 

The exalted mythical figure is a projection of greatness. Sherni feels like a fitting title

Sidra Saleem 

Saleem’s work has clown imagery. Yes, an entire oeuvre of clowns. Her medium has evolved from digital collages to sculpture where you can experience the fantastic whimsy in three dimensional form in all its glory. On a cake tray lay several sculptural cupcakes, each one the head of a clown (clowncakes?), with different spirited expressions designed to make the viewer respond with lighthearted ease, unless you’re afraid of clowns. Exhibit not recommended if you have coulrophobia. 

On a cake tray lay several sculptural cupcakes, each one the head of a clown (clowncakes?)