Imran Qureshi: The first Artist to Paint Metropolitan Museum NYC
In 2013, the Lahore based artist had the international art critics gone psyched over his impeccably amazing blood smear art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, one of the finest art museums around the globe and a popular tourist and art aficionado spot.
Born in Hyderabad and working from Lahore, Imran Qureshi is Pakistan’s artistic prodigy. He’s the first Pakistani artist to paint the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He was hailed as the International Artist of the Year in 2013.
Overlooking the lush New York Central Park, the art museum is one of the coolest tourist spots and hosts several theme-inspired photography, sculpture and painting exhibitions in summers every year drawing art critics, buyers and artisans from the socialites of New York and around.
The 2013 theme inspired by civil war drew Imran Qureshi to the gallery who haunted by the terror struck memories of home painted the impeccable impressions on the floor of the rooftop.
According to Qureshi the art work is a response to violence that has occurred around the world in recent decades. He calls it And How Many Rains Must Fall before the Stains Are Washed Clean, a title inspired by the poetry of the hailed poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
Qureshi’s signature is the blood smear on his paintings defining Pakistan’s sustainability through terror and sadism.
The artwork curator Ian Alteveer explained that Qureshi’s art work heavily drew inspiration from the Lahore Bombings of 2013 and while the art work was still in process, the tragic incident of Boston bombings further enhanced the project.
While for a lot the art work might appear distressing and upsetting, Qureshi sees it from a different angle. Explaining his concept behind the red oblique lines, the leaves and floral patterns painted on the rooftop, Qureshi says from death grows life; from horror comes transcendence; hope emerges from despair. But for me and, I imagine, others, that inspirational symbolism will be overlaid by the sobering, still-fresh memories of the blood-splattered street where bombs exploded at the finish line of last month’s marathon in Boston. Thoughts of war and other terrorist acts naturally come to mind, too
What first might appear as if a scene of massacre, if looked closely upon shows the subtlety of life and regeneration of mankind.
Earlier in 2012, Imran Qureshi did a similar red acrylic art work in Abu Dhabhi where he was also appreciated by art critics. Recalling the reaction of people, Qureshi told also said that there were a lot of people who cried having seen his art work and he thought perhaps he had done something really wrong.
