This pioneering work traces the emergence of the modern and contemporary art of Muslim South Asia in relation to transnational modernism and in light of the regions intellectual; cultural; and political developments. Art historian Iftikhar Dadi here explores the art and writings of major artists; men and women; ranging from the late colonial period to the era of independence and beyond. He looks at the stunningly diverse artistic production of key artists associated with Pakistan; including Abdur Rahman Chughtai; Zainul Abedin; Shakir Ali; Zubeida Agha; Sadequain; Rasheed Araeen; and Naiza Khan. Dadi shows how; beginning in the 1920s; these artists addressed the challenges of modernity by translating historical and contemporary intellectual conceptions into their work; reworking traditional approaches to the classical Islamic arts; and engaging the modernist approach towards subjective individuality in artistic expression. In the process; they dramatically reconfigured the visual arts of the region. By the 1930s; these artists had embarked on a sustained engagement with international modernism in a context of dizzying social and political change that included decolonization; the rise of mass media; and developments following the national independence of India and Pakistan in 1947.Bringing new insights to such concepts as nationalism; modernism; cosmopolitanism; and tradition; Dadi underscores the powerful impact of transnationalism during this period and highlights the artists growing embrace of modernist and contemporary artistic practice in order to address the challenges of the present era.
#1049183 in eBooks 2008-03-01 2008-03-01File Name: B0042JSNGI
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A childrens book and very general.By AngieThis was written for children/teens. Not for adults. I did not see that in the summary or I would not have bought it. The writing is clear. the facts are solid. but I did not even finish the book. Most of the information I already knew- but I have taught art history and all about Michelangelo. Michelangelo and the popss ceiling is much better.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy GG148Informative.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good readBy MRosenthalI am not an art history buff. but really enjoyed the book. At times I thought the commentary may have been overly flattering towards Michaelangelo and skimmed over more controversial topics.
