The solo exhibition of Lahore-based contemporary artist Imran Mughal, titled 'Tales from the Inner Kingdom,' has officially opened at Gallery 6 in Islamabad. This exhibition showcases a dynamic collection of works that draw inspiration from folklore, popular culture, music, and personal imagination, creating a distinctive visual language deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the subcontinent.
Artist Background
Born in 1987, Imran Mughal represents a new generation of Pakistani artists who skillfully merge tradition with contemporary expression. He holds both a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Textile Art and Design from the University of the Punjab, Lahore. His textile background is evident in his paintings through intricate patterns, layered surfaces, and richly ornamented compositions. His practice reflects years of engagement with both fine art and design, resulting in works that are visually compelling and conceptually layered.
Artistic Inspiration
At the core of Imran's artistic practice is a fascination with the stories, symbols, and visual traditions that shape collective memory. His paintings are filled with motifs from folklore, indigenous culture, and popular imagery, yet they avoid nostalgia. Instead, these elements are transformed through a fluid and intuitive process he calls 'unconscious dictation'—a spontaneous mode of image-making where memories, emotions, and ideas find visual form.
Music plays a central role in this creative process. Much like a musical composition, Imran's paintings unfold rhythmically, allowing symbols, patterns, and narratives to interact freely across the canvas. The result is a dreamlike world where inherited cultural references are reimagined rather than merely preserved.
Exhibition Themes
The exhibition explores the tension between tradition and change. Imran questions inherited cultural codes and social conventions, proposing a more open and inclusive understanding of identity and creativity. Through his paintings, he invites viewers to enter an inner realm where imagination transcends boundaries and where cultural heritage becomes a source of renewal rather than restriction.
