Raqib Shaw's 100-Foot-Wide Autobiographical Painting Traces a Journey of Exile and Self-Discovery
Briefly

Raqib Shaw's "Paradise Lost" is a monumental painting created in 21 panels, stretching 100 feet, that reflects his experiences of loss and beauty. After fleeing Kashmir due to political unrest, Shaw’s experiences in New Delhi and London fueled his artistic expression. The allegorical work depicts four life chapters, beginning with themes of childhood innocence and evolving through turmoil. Shaw emphasizes that metaphor is vital to his narrative, resonating deeply with his personal history and cultural background. The piece serves as a universal reflection on the paradises lost throughout life's journey.
In Kashmir, metaphor is intrinsic to the way people speak and think. Metaphor, rather than directness, conveys meaning with the greatest precision and depth.
The painting, composed of 21 panels that stretch 100 feet wide, traces four chapters of the artist's life, from childhood to 2015.
The painting contains a seated figure howling at the moon, reflecting the innocence, solitude, and inner calm associated with Shaw's childhood.
It is a story of the many paradises we inevitably lose as we move through life: the paradise of childhood, of innocence, of excitement and anticipation.
Read at Colossal
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