Gallery-21 Moscow is pleased to announce “Contrapposto,” a solo exhibition by a young Pakistani artist. Tayyab Tariq, the Pakistani artist in Moscow, explores the deconstructive method on objects that are manufactured with prebuilt functionalities. He describes it as: “I follow the only function an object holds already. My role is to elaborate a dispute/discussion in its form and function.” He repurposes domestic objects, critiquing the repetitive functionality of humans by not just likening but also idealizing and wishing to invade other assets. He refers to the work “The Contrapposto” to emphasize that humans learn to function by observing the outside, like a monkey-see-monkey-do approach, wanting what others have built, and wishing for prebuilt and ready-made solutions. The function of furniture is to reuse the prefabricated, ready-made, preconstructed module. The prebuilt functional environment dominates our everyday life “unconsciously,” and we seek ready-made solutions to every aspect of our lives.

“Abel & Qabil”, The story of Abel and Cain exemplifies ruthlessness and destruction in the lust for power, highlighting the destructive nature of such conflicts. The chair, whether a throne or a simple seat, symbolizes power and reminds us to reflect on our ethical choices in the pursuit of invading the “ready-made” authority which someone has built or gain but the lust lead us to fight for invations. The work “Human Exelixi” exelixi is a Greek term that defines the emergence of the complex state. Like human revolution, development is the profound journey of transforming our lives at the very core, from the primitive survival skills utilized from the cave lifestyle to our modern-day lifestyle, and continually striving to shape a better self for tomorrow. Tayyab illuminates his ideas further in the sculpture “Intimacy” The term literal meaning is having a close and personal connection with someone, with whom you feel comfortable sharing your true curiosities and thoughts but Tayyab’s direction is finding your mentor for the true fulfillment of your characteristic growth to build tandem between your soul and yourself. This can be achieved by pursuing meaningful conversations with the right source, the sculpture “The Conversation” explains how important is to be careful and precise to find the right mentor to build tandem with yourself and your journey. The Conversation is an illumination of “Conscientia” a Latin term that translates as “consciousness” or “awareness”. It encompasses the state of being awake and aware of one’s surroundings, thoughts, and feelings, by learning and sharing experiences with others through debate and discussion. He referred to “Khudi” by Allama Iqbal in the context of self-realization, true fulfillment, and questioning societal norms of being repetitive and idealizing easy and political lifestyle which needs our rejection and disagreement because the real purpose of our existence is something else.

In the spirit of Renaissance introspection and the pursuit of self-realization, “Contrapposto” — a term deeply ingrained in Italian art — is not merely a state of physical equilibrium, but a profound metaphor for inner balance and enlightenment, as elucidated by Tayyab Tariq, “said Lidia Tarasova, the Gallery-21 Curator.  Further she explains the relentless march of urban progress, where new forms emerge in a symphony of chaos and complexity, instead of the symphony of harmony and peace. Tayyab’s approach aesthetically reflects a deeper quest for harmony & growth. His principle mirrors the Renaissance ideals of exploring human potential and questioning established norms”

“Contrapposto” list of works:
The Contrapposto
Abel & Qabil
Intimacy
The Conversation
Human Exelixi
Manglyaan
First Cell
Constallation
Waiting for Its History to Begin

Ksenia Podoynitsina, Founder of “Gallery 21”:

“Gallery 21” continues to introduce young and promising foreign artists to the Russian audience. And I am happy to present our next exhibition – “Contrapposto” by Tayyab Tariq, Pakistani artist. This is a special event for the Russian art scene as it allows us to see contemporary art through the eyes of an artist with an absolutely different aesthetic perception and generally unknown national identity.

“Gallery 21” commits to the research, aesthetic, and ethical task of integrating the representatives of the international art community into the Moscow local environment allowing our audience to break away from conventional terms of intellectual task and see it anew.