Memory, Metaphor, Mutations: The Contemporary Art of India and Pakistan

Increasingly, as boundaries are being dissolved and interactive realities are becoming evident, the cultures of India and Pakistan are beginning to draw attention. Within the larger exchange of music, cinema and other cultural forms, the contemporary art of the two countries in all its vibrancy begins to have a fascinating new identity. There are many similarities that the art of the two countries share because of their common history. At the same time, divergences also lead to new directions that provide fodder for a cathartic regeneration. The book draws on three vital aspects of contemporary Indian and Pakistani art: first, the historical development which began in colonial times and continued its diverse course in both countries after gaining independence. Second, the distinctive elements in contemporary art re-use their vital traditions, in the case of India, through the incorporation of popular art and in the case of Pakistan, the reinvention of the miniature tradition. Third, is the dynamic and essential work of women artists of India and Pakistan.