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The writer is a Lahore-based academic currently associated with Forman Christian College, a chartered university
Dear Mohsin Shafi,
Congratulations! You have successfully added another ‘red flag’ — ruby pink to be precise — to the already awkward aura and an archetypal contentious personality of a desi middle-class artist. Frankly, what’s with dyeing the cap pink? Not that I have any objections to it. Guess, gone are the days of Red, Green and Black caps. If you feel like pink, Pink it is. Let’s catch up on that later.
For now, felicitations are also due for the solo presentation at the prestigious Kunshalle Krems Museum, Austria (22.11.25 — 06.04.26). The works here are a mix of activism, introspection and a touch of the unconventional, raw emotion, mysticism and social critique, with that whole “don’t mess with me” aura — the beard, the knuckles with studded rings and an open-buttoned shirt exposing tawiz, bravery or virility. I can pretty much contextualise the entire show within your usual quest of identity, spirituality and an effort to make sense of all the ambiguity and obscurity — the real, the surreal and its many forms of manifestation.
I am also enjoying the duality of the title ‘Between the Two Worlds’ connoted as a ‘Third Space’ — a site of cultural hybridity, as described by the curator. Allow me to add to its more popular implication of post-colonial identity, third space, neither fully part of this physical world nor fully part of the afterlife, can be a liminal realm, a spiritual in-between where souls exist before entering the physical body.
What is this quest? The wise would say, everything you seek is inside you. The philosopher-poet of the East, Iqbal, suggested, Apne mann mein doob kar pa ja suragh-e-zindagi i.e. if you seek awareness, consciousness, or God, the ultimate reality, you look inward. This is what you do: try out all the colours in your closet until you find one that best matches your perception of Him and yourself and this world. After all, each colour is His — He is the First and the Last and the Manifest and the Hidden and He knows everything. The process of knowing is not straightforward. It demands complete self-denial and one of the routes is of fana — self-annihilation. Artists exploring themes like self-annihilation or malamati ideas might often appear self-centred because they’re deeply focused on their inner world. It’s like they’re tuning into their own frequency, often ignoring societal expectations or norms. This intense focus on inner growth or critiquing the world may come off as self-obsession or rebellion — hence, miscommunications, heartbreaks, rejections and failures. Do not let this bother you.
Attar of Nishapur proposed the idea of hiding one’s spiritual state and embracing the “blame” of the world, emphasising love, detachment and the critique of outward religiosity. What is the approach, then? How is it done? Tapping into a deeper truth, one that’s more vivid and authentic than everyday reality — more “real” than real life. You figured out a more straightforward way — capturing the essence of human experience in a way that feels both familiar and unsettling.
May you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone in taking this path! Timon of Athens comes to mind — his bitter, introspective and brutal honesty about humanity’s flaws matches your vibe. Think Juvenal, the Roman poet who went satirical on Rome’s corruption or Goya, who critiqued society’s darkness through intense paintings. Maybe Shakespeare’s Hamlet, with his introspection and disillusionment with the world’s hypocrisy or Thersites from Troilus and Cressida, the bitter sarcasm about human frailties. After all, concealment of spiritual states — embracing blame and rejection of outward piety isn’t something many can live with. I shall end this letter quoting Shakespeare: “The world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” BTW, read this quote in reference to the neatly displayed collectibles in the show that are perhaps your props for this role play.
More later,
Bano
January 2026
