Gardenfinds Two
Reflecting on Ustad Mansur’s 1620 portraits of tulips.
‘Gardenfinds Two’ pays tribute to the natural world. Before recent global occurrences altered the rhythm of life itself, Usman Saeed found solace in his family garden and the myriad wonders cocooned within. In recent months, this space has taken on special importance, offering a sense of clandestine peacefulness from the chaos of the outside world. 'Gardenfinds Two', like its predecessor 'Gardenfinds One' three years ago, is inspired by the slow and careful act of tending to a garden. Importantly, this act informs the study's underlying practice of aesthetic contemplation, engagement and involvement by not only Saeed but visitors to the garden, too.
The blooms are awash with hues of colour, with the fresh breeze of early spring
I beseech you, come forth, and grant the garden leave to go about its business
- Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1954)
Study of Tulip 6 | Marker on paper | 2019
Study of Tulip 2 | Marker on paper | 2019
Study of Tulip 3 | Marker on paper | 2019
Bagh-e-Sadia is a home-garden-studio named after the artist's late mother. It aspires towards the notion of a timeless learning garden that hosts students and the elements alike, welcoming, spurring and encouraging guests to live and work in harmony with our natural surroundings.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST Born in 1977, Usman Saeed is an artist, gardener, researcher and educator based in Lahore. He works from Bagh-e-Sadia, his home garden studio named in memory of his late mother, Sadia Saeed. His ongoing series Gardenfinds brings into focus nature, its subjects and subjectivities. His practice relies first on studying life from nature and, in turn, on editing the study stylistically. Usman graduated from the National College of Arts in Lahore, in 1999 and the Royal College of Art in London, in 2006. Working as an Associate Professor at the Institute for Art and Culture in Lahore, he specialises in Indo-Persian drawing and painting. ‘Gardenfinds Two’ is Usman's 12th solo show.
ABOUT THE CURATOR Born and based in Karachi, Maliha Peracha is a visual artist and educationist specialising in ceramic art and porcelain design. She has taught at the National College of Arts in Lahore, Yadawei Ceramic Studio in Dubai and exhibited in Pakistan, Germany and the UAE. She currently works as an art consultant and independent curator. In her contemporary art practice, she draws on varied sources and techniques, her narrative informed by nostalgia, identity and belonging. She came second place in the Dubai Ceramic Award 2017. In 2005 she was awarded the DAAD Scholarship to study ceramic-glass porcelain design at the University of Niederrhein, Germany. As part of the Koel Gallery team in 2020, she co-curated the gallery's first online exhibition, 'On the 14th Day', and the gallery's inaugural international exhibition 'Landscape of Memory', bringing together ten Pakistani and Scottish artists. 'Gardenfinds Two' is her first independent curatorial experience.
‘Gardenfinds Two’ runs from 20 February - 10 April 2021 At the garden of the artist’s family home Bagh-e-Sadia | 41 D, Valencia Town, Lahore | For further information: baghesadia@gmail.com.