Sana Khan - Ghungroos - Dialogue with a Man

About

99 Mount Gallery is proud to present Sana Khans' collection of exceptional photomontages. The title ‘Ghungroos' refers to the small golden bells strapped to the ankles of traditional Indian dancers. In the narrative of this work, the bells can be heard from a distance, creating an image of the loved one approaching, an arousing (or inviting) harbinger of what is to come. Ghungroos are presented both as objects and as sound memory - the subtle echo of the past as well as a memoir of personal loss and longing. Khan uses a myriad of materials in the construction of her work. Creating these images has led her on manifold encounters with set builders to scenic painters from the Zoo to the morgue to the butcher's shop in and around Lahore. Where else could one rent a rhinoceros for the day? Each photograph tells a different story, all stemming from the central idea of ‘the passerby' and mixed with the soundscape of bells. It was once said that photography would render figurative painting all but obsolete. However, due to photographic artists such as Jeff Wall, photography has side-stepped into a new role; taking up the baton of historical painting, previously dropped by the European masters. Sana Khan takes inspiration from both these great masters as well the vibrant and beautifully accomplished art of Pakistan including historical and contemporary styles. From this she creates an art shaped by dreams and dark imaginings — a visual narrative reflecting tragedy on a broader stage. Although she denies the cultural and sociopolitical influences of Pakistan on her work, it is not difficult to recognize the conflicting impulses that infuse her dark and surreal compositions - whether through the representation of inequality or issues related to gender. Khan's multiple narrative photography is testament to photography being an ideal medium for combining hybrid strands and presenting an image that is as intriguing for its' meaty content as it is for its' visual appeal.