Dareecha
42" x 42"
Mixed media on canvas
Neo-shamsa in aquatic blues and inky blacks, comprising a web of dark streaks interspersed with a Urdu couplet by Faiz (d. 1984). The cage-like medallion at the center is composed of the word “mizan” (the scales of justice) alludes to the poet’s imprisonment when he wrote the couplet. The couplet itself is rendered in a bold angular style of nastaliq: “How many a crucifix make up my prison-cell window? / each colored by a different messiah’s blood.” گڑی ہیں کتنی) صلیبیں میرے دریچے میں ہر اک اپنے مسیحا کے خوں کا رنگ لیئے) // गाड़ी हैं कितनी सलीबें मेरे दरीचे में हर एक अपने मसीहा के खून का रंग लिए
