‘Fine Lines’
Sep 2021 -
May 2022
‘Fine Lines’ showcased a selection of historical Indian miniature paintings alongside those by contemporary artists. The exhibition traces the application of meticulous brushwork across a number of countries and range of pictorial styles.
Emerging more than two millennia ago in Han dynasty China (202 BCE – 220 CE), the delicate technique known as gongbi (meticulous brush) was prized for its technical precision. Its influence flowed across central Asia to Persia, and India where the technique was used to document historical events and to illustrate legendary and poetic tales.
This rich cultural inheritance, spanning the breadth of the Asian landmass continues to provide a fertile source of inspiration for artists exploring figuration and narrative in a contemporary context.
‘Fine Lines’ was on display in QAG’s Gallery 6 (Henry and Amanda Bartlett Galleries) from 25 September 2021 to 22 May 2022. Below, in a non-exhaustive list of works, explore highlights from this exhibition.
Feature image: An installation view of ‘Fine Lines’, with works from Kalu Ram’s ‘Many Lives Lived’ series in the foreground, QAG, March 2022 / © The artists / Photograph: N Harth, QAGOMA
Collection artworks featured in ‘Fine Lines’
Cycle of Life #01 1970s
- RAM, Kalu - Creator
Cycle of Life #02 1970s
- RAM, Kalu - Creator
Cycle of Life #05 1970s
- RAM, Kalu - Creator
Many Lives Lived #75 1970s
- RAM, Kalu - Creator
Many Lives Lived #76 1970s
- RAM, Kalu - Creator
Many Lives Lived #77 1970s
- RAM, Kalu - Creator
Penguin road 1999
- SHIEH, Wilson - Creator
Koala place 1999
- SHIEH, Wilson - Creator
Panda park 1999
- SHIEH, Wilson - Creator
Presentation 1998
- QURESHI, Mohammad Imran - Creator
The scholar 1999
- QURESHI, Mohammad Imran - Creator
Conversations II 2001
- QURESHI, Nusra Latif - Creator
Afterthoughts 2001
- QURESHI, Nusra Latif - Creator
Holy matrix 2005
- WASIM, Saira - Creator
Coming up next 2001
- KHALID, Aisha - Creator
Visible/invisible 2003
- KHALID, Aisha - Creator
Visible/invisible 2003
- KHALID, Aisha - Creator
Miniature with bougainvillea petals 1 2004
- VALAMANESH, Hossein - Artist
- VALAMANESH, Angela - Artist
Miniature with bougainvillea petals 2 2004
- VALAMANESH, Hossein - Artist
- VALAMANESH, Angela - Artist
Miniature with alstromerea petals 1 2003
- VALAMANESH, Hossein - Artist
- VALAMANESH, Angela - Artist
Miniature with alstromerea petals 2 2003
- VALAMANESH, Hossein - Artist
- VALAMANESH, Angela - Artist
Rota Fortunae 2018
- BUSH, Kushana - Creator
In signs 2018
- BUSH, Kushana - Creator
Hark 2018
- BUSH, Kushana - Creator
Local circus I 2007
- KAZIM, Ali - Creator
Local circus III 2007
- KAZIM, Ali - Creator
My father 2010
- MAHMOOD, Basir - Creator