Magical Narratives: a celebration of Islamic art and miniature painting (DIFC, Dec 4 - 6)

NM Art Gallery presents ‘Magical Narratives’

A group exhibition of 15 acclaimed miniature painters from Pakistan

Amna Hashmi
Want to join my MMO 3

NM Art Gallery, a leading showcase for affordable contemporary art, is pleased to announce Magical Narratives, a specially curated group exhibition that brings together new works by a host of 15 acclaimed artists from Pakistan.

The exhibition, which debuts on December 4th at DIFC and runs till the end of the year, reflects upon the nature and the use of visual narratives as a bonding force in cultural and cross cultural contexts, and is inspired primarily by the various styles of miniature painting, one of the three distinctive forms of Islamic art, alongside calligraphy and illumination.

Farah Rana  -  Details

“This exhibition aims to celebrate the heritage of Islamic art and the style of miniature painting in particular, as well as showcase art as storytelling and embodiment of who we are as people and as society”, explained Maliha Bhutto Rahimtoola, who co-founded the NM Art Gallery in 2009 together with Nyla Qayoom Noorani.

“We live in a world that is like a dense forest of events that are confusing, distracting and transforming us. It is through these narratives that we make sense of the time, space and world we live in”, added Maliha Bhutto Rahimtoola.

Muhammad Atif Khan
Landscape of the heart

The overarching theme of the collection is storytelling as a multifaceted process and pathway to relate and share experiences, aspirations, desires, passions, which form compelling narratives at individual and collective levels and create a symbiotic body of work.

"Over the years, it has become increasingly important to us the need to enable experiences that encourage and expand the engagement of art viewers”, said Nyla Qayoom Noorani. “Magical Narratives creates an authentic experience that encourages viewers to explore storytelling with the same curiosity, abandon and freedom as the artists themselves. We're very excited to see this exhibition come to life", concluded Nyla Qayoom Noorani.

Sakina Akhbat
Man Nami Goyam Anal Haq

The exhibition features a total of 45 works by the following artists: M. Atif Khan, Amna Hashmi, Afshan Yousaf, Beenish Khalid, Fatima Shakeel, Farah Mahmood, Maimoona Riaz, Mehrbano Khattak, Saima Beenish, Saima Ali, Silwat Mumtaz, Saira Abbasi, Sakina Akbar, Zaira Ahmed Zaka and Nadia Rahat.

Saima Ali
Transcending Borders

Magical Narratives will be on display at DIFC from 4^th to 6^th of December, then at the NM Art Gallery till year end. For more information about the exhibition and other upcoming shows, please contact NM Art Gallery at +971 50 6265270 or visit the gallery at The House of Zunn Showroom, on Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai.  The gallery is open Sunday to Thursday, from 10 am – 6pm.