Preview
Buy Print
Send
Share
Download
Similars
X-Ray
DiaporamaI Am or Am I Not My Own Enemy
shahzia sikander (1969 –)
Shahzia Sikander: Pakistani-American visual artist blending traditional Indo-Persian miniature painting with contemporary animation & installation. Explore layered narratives & cultural identity.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, United States of America)
Explore art from around the world at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art! Discover an encyclopedic collection, stunning architecture & free admission in Kansas City.
A close look at this calligraphic drawing reveals layers of text, musical notations and floral motifs. At the center, a block of text repeats the phrase “I am also not my own enemy,” taken from a melodic poem from the 1800s about unrequited love by the Indian poet Ghalib (1797–1869). Because the text runs together and repeats, it can also be read as “Am I also not my own enemy?” The text is juxtaposed with musical notations, and the entire composition is laid over a field of flowers. Sikander finished the work with vertical drips of ink and paint, making the text and musical notes unreadable, but creating a visually beautiful work of art. Sikander explains: “By repetition and layering, the text becomes both fluid and chaotic. In the process of translation what is revealed? The fluidity of language or the obscurity of the meaning?”
About this artwork
- Title: I Am or Am I Not My Own Enemy
- Artist: shahzia sikander
- Year: 2011
- Format: Portrait
- Copyright status: Under copyright
- Where to see it: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Color hue: Blue-Violet to Rose
- Color intensity: Monochromatic
QR Code
