|
I was born and raised in the land of lovers and Sufi poets (Punjab); love and spirituality are in my bones. It is interesting how the environment plays a role in shaping one’s concerns. The impact of early days of democracy, then 11 dark years of dictatorship followed by occasional glimpses of elected governments, and then again a never-ending military regime. That is the chronology of my time spent in Pakistan. During all these times of political instability, only few things flourished: lies, false promises, and religious exploitation. The best fruits that grew out of this tree of instability were doubt and duality, and I love them both! |
 |
Khalil Chishtee
I was born and raised in the land of lovers and Sufi poets (Punjab); love and spirituality are in my bones. It is interesting how the environment plays a role in shaping one’s concerns. The impact of early days of democracy, then 11 dark years of dictatorship followed by occasional glimpses of elected governments, and then again a never-ending military regime. That is the chronology of my time spent in Pakistan.
During all these times of political instability, only few things flourished: lies, false promises, and religious exploitation. The best fruits that grew out of this tree of instability were doubt and duality, and I love them both! I love the aspect of duality of my age. Villains are not exactly villains, and heroes have learned how to cheat. Liars are convinced to proceed with conviction, and truth shakes with a resolute breath. Being an artist I am responsible for observing whatever is happening around me, and for observing it very carefully. These games are the content of my work and they amuse me, make me laugh. I feel helpless, however, when they add a serious tone to my playful work.
Space is my material. My figures, sometimes white, occasionally black or blue, enjoy the magic of space. These forms, most of the time, don’t have any armature in them, as their floss-like presence and soft edges depict a dialogue with the space around them. Playful aspects of my personality dance everywhere in those figures. It’s a treat for me to be among them.
The characters I make live inside me and come out whenever needed. They are so familiar to me that most of the time I feel like shedding my skin in the space of the gallery or my studio. My work speaks to all kinds of audiences. These works become complex in front of thinking minds; they provoke intellect while at the same time appearing very simple in the presence of simple souls.
