open presence
Open presence is an acknowledgment of the space of consciousness, an intermediate space between senses and states. A place one may come to observation without preferences. A holding place between the ordinary and sublime at once. The skin, senses and states are porous through which one may sieve into open presence, where everything touches everything. Ayessha Quraishi . August 2016
"All major mystical traditions have recognized that there is a paradox at the heart of the journey of return to Origin. ...Put simply, this is that we are already what we seek, and that what we are looking for on the Path with such an intensity of striving and passion and discipline is already within and around us at all moments. The journey and all its different ordeals are all emanations of the One Spirit that is manifesting everything in all dimensions; every rung of the ladder we climb toward final awareness is made of the divine stuff of awareness itself; Divine Consciousness is at once creating and manifesting all things and acting in and as all things in various states of self-disguise throughout all the different levels and dimensions of the universe." Andrew Harvey
“It is only when we realize that life is taking us nowhere that it begins to have meaning.� P.D. Ouspensky
the form of the last shadow wood 41 x 8 x 8 inches
dawning into coherence wood 40 x 8 x 8 inches
a word of love in the shape of burning awareness, i offer oil on paper 44 x 29 inches
an innocent spread of elements at the heart of time, which forms cannot reach oil on paper 62 x 29 inches
open presence, where everything touches everything oil on paper 45 x 25 inches
touching blind, inside out. 1 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 2 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 3 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 4 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 5 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 6 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 7 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 8 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 9 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
touching blind, inside out. 10 oil and pigment on paper 25 x 18 inches
in the absolute presence of a distant light. 1 oil on paper 36.5 x 25 inches
in the absolute presence of a distant light. 2 oil on paper 36.5 x 25 inches
and of skies it is said ‘there are seven’ oil on timber 36 x 36 inches
skin rituals over a flesh weakness oil on timber 36 x 36 inches
the way one comes to fade oil on paper 45 x 28.5 inches
the way one fades into the other fabric 30 x 60 inches
Ayessha Quraishi is a self-taught painter, currently based in Karachi. She has exhibited in major cities across Pakistan as well as internationally in Avignon, Freiberg, London, Moscow, Toronto and Matera. Quraishi has also participated in Biennial Izmir, 2011; the Bodrum Biennial, 2013; and Mostra Internazionale di Pittura, Matera, Italy, 2014. Quraishi's work employs gestural mark-making. And she often integrates drawing, painting, and digital media in order to explore the meditative nature of artistic practice.
Ayessha Quraishi
Solo Shows 2013
'Liminal’, Khaas Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
2013
'Continuous / Present’, Rothas II, Lahore, Pakistan
2012
'Letters From An Underground Vein Read' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
1998
Indus Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
1997
The Art Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
1995
NCA Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
1995
Gallery Ardeco Avignon, France
Group Shows 2016
‘Awaken Our Legacy’ - Standard Chartered Bank, World Trade Centre Branch, Karachi
2015
‘Birwa’ Showdown 2015, Sadequain Gallery, Karachi
2014
‘Mostra Internazionale di Pittura’, Matera, Italy
2014
‘Summer Scape 2014' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2013
‘October Passage' Canakkale, Turkey
2013
‘Summer Scape 2014' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2013
‘Intimacy' Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2012
‘Abstract Art In Contemporary Russia' Moscow
2012
‘Universal Sapience' Freiburg, Germany
2011
La Galleria Pall Mall, London, United Kingdom
2002
‘Takhti Project’, Toronto, Canada
2001
‘Takhti Project’, Sadequain Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
2000
Alliance Francaise, Karachi, Pakistan
1999
Alliance Francaise, Karachi, Pakistan
1998
Zenini Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
1996
Gallery Ardeco Avignon, France
1995
Gallery Sadequain, Karachi, Pakistan
1995
Indus Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
1995
PNCA Gallery, Islamabad, Pakistan
1995
NCA Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
1991
Shakir Ali Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
1990
Shakir Ali Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
1989
VM Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
Performance 2013 'Riwhyti' One Night Stand, Amin Gulgee Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan 2012
‘Scroll 98 feet x 42 inches’, Koel Gallery, Karachi, Pakistan
Residencies 2013
'Hic - 2' Workshop, Turgutreis / Bodrum, Turkey
2011
Winter Academy, Fayoum, Egypt
2010
International Painting Symposium, Luxor, Egypt
1996
Association Saint-Henri, France
Biennials 2013
Bodrum Biennial, Turkey
2011
Biennial Izmir, Turkey
Video 2012
https://vimeo.com/55042462
Publications 2013
http://lanternjournal.org/category/v2-i2-2013/
2012
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/39162935/final intimicacy catalog- spreads.pdf
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