Native Hand

Moroccan-French artist Achraf Touloub’s handmade work throws new light on the Persian miniature tradition.

artist, moroccan-french artist, achraf touloub, handmade art, art, Galerie Isa, talk, indian express

Achraf Touloub; his handmade artwork

From a distance it seems like a gilded frame, which has itself been framed and hung on the wall. But as one moves closer to the picture, titled Recurrent Pattern, one sees that the empty white space between the two rectangles is not so empty after all. It is teeming with figures — a whole crowd of them drawn repeatedly and with such precision that one would swear they are the result of a mechanical process. At first glance, each tiny figure seems to be a mere replica of its neighbour when in fact, the artist’s attention to detail lends them a great degree of individuality.

This is precisely the effect that Moroccan-French artist Achraf Touloub is going for, with the painstakingly-produced works in his solo exhibition “Buffering Natives”, at Mumbai’s Galerie Isa till November 27.

Touloub draws on the tradition of Persian miniatures and explains it as his way of subverting the long-held notion that there was no originality in such works, that they all followed a template. “This is what we have learned from the West. We have been told that miniature art was highly specialised and there were separate artists for drawing trees and figures, and then other artists would fill in the colours. So we are told that because each artist’s work involved so much drudgery and repetition, there was no originality and hence, no real artistry,” he says, “But if you examine them closely, you will find that each flower is subtly different from the other.”

For the 29-year-old artist, who trained at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the very act of drawing by hand and repeating patterns, as was once done by miniaturists in the pre-modern era, is art. This comes through in works such as the untitled piece where a number of faceless, kneeling figures, which are in fact, the same figure, are rendered with ink and gouache in a long, looping series. Raw, an abstract work, in which Touloub has used pigmented ink to minutely make a series of waves, shows the artist’s control and precision and like the other works in the show, merits the viewer’s close attention.

Pooja Pillai

Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology. Editorial Focus & Expertise Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique. Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment. Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms. Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy. Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics. Multimedia & Podcasting Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs. Notable Recent Works Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House. Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value. Professional Presence Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights. Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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