Accompanying the artist’s exhibition at the Curve, Barbican, London (18 February–10 July 2016), this volume focuses on Qureshi’s use of miniature painting as a site for social commentary.
The new commission draws upon the curve as a formal motif in the miniature tradition, responding to the dramatic architecture of the gallery space. The sequence of works begins with gentle scenes of nature, which are gradually transformed through the addition of darker elements. Hung at varying heights along the space, these delicate paintings subtly imply the uncertainty of what lies around the bend.
The volume includes Mohsin Hamid’s reflections on an encounter with the artist, as well as an essay by Eleanor Nairne, installation views and illustrations of recent work.
This is the third title in a publication series by Barbican Art Gallery and Ridinghouse that focuses on the Curve exhibition programme.