Through her lavishly painted found objects, Adeela Suleman contemplates humanity’s fascination with, and the continued presence of, violence across histories and geographies. The objects feature the techniques and motifs of South Asian miniature painting, and are inspired by a range of historical events, sites and artistic traditions from the Mughal courts to European medieval knights. Across a collection of delicate ceramic and enamel plates and dishes, Suleman depicts bloodied scenarios and violent encounters as part of her broader practice, which has continually explored local artisanal techniques and found objects to confront themes of political urgency.

In the series ‘Home Front’ 2021, painted metal cleavers provide a counterpoint to blood-splattered dishes. Idealised mountain-scapes are drawn from postcards that circulate in Pakistan, depicting views of the Himalayan region around the border between Pakistan and India. Within these seemingly peaceful landscapes, Suleman recognises the underlying reality of ongoing conflict in the region and the sites of border tension and trauma that pervade the landscape and its communities. In comparison to her tableware works, the balance of imagery and object here is upturned, with the object itself – designed to cut through flesh and bone – suggesting the violence absent from the image. Additionally, in contrast to the long and disparate histories featured on her plates and dishes, Suleman signals much more recent conflicts in these works, which affect a region closer to her home.