Trash and Burn

Chishtee always knew he wanted to be an artist and began at an early age. “As a youngster I loved to make things with my hands. My inspiration stems from the storytelling tradition of Punjab,” says the artist,who went on to study at National College of Art in Lahore and then did his master’s at the California State University.

His sculptures and drawings attempt to show human beings hidden behind strict religions beliefs,trying to escape the shackles of societal norms. His lyrical depictions of tightrope walkers and acrobats capture this existential struggle.

He often uses his own body as a reference to create art and while he doesn’t call his work performance art,he does believe that Pakistanis are often exoticised. “Artists from Pakistan have been doing performance and video art for a very long time,but the exotic aspect of miniature and calligraphy is what is often highlighted at international venues. I don’t agree with this kind of selection,” says Chishtee. For his own work he has used a range of mediums from bronze to ceramics,wood to fibreglass. Lately he has been focusing on working with plastic bags. “Like everyone else,the first thing I noticed on my trip to New York City was its crowd and energy. I immediately fell in love with it,but after a few hours I noticed black garbage bags crowding the city,taking the place of the people. This experience still overwhelms me,” he says.

The exhibition begins at Select Citywalk in Saket on July 29 and is on till August 12. Closed on Sundays. Contact: 64640884