In Search of Earthly Paradise

Text by: Sheema Zain
Photography: Courtest Tariq A. Qaiser

The inherent beauty of the world, of life so often overshadowed by the act of living water, light, nature. Simply being. Mostly looked at, not seen, just existing.

It’s hard to express beauty, seemingly simple and natural. As if one has been lifted off this world, sent over a voyage in a hot air balloon across myriad lands and climes, vistas and landscapes and then sent down. After witnessing so many breathtaking views in the “From Father to Son” exhibition, it’s hard to pin what one exactly feels. A heady dizziness and exhilaration. The plethora of images are exhilarating, each one strikes a different note, leaving a different impression, that its hard to classify, generalize and yet not feel that their forays with the camera, over eight years. As Tariq writes, “the collection resulted from the desire to express the art of seeing, to show the visual splendor of the world. And reveal the incredible richness within even the most common, the most base of objects and episodes in life. The simple fact of living, and appreciating the beauty in everything, such sumptuousness elevates the very act of existence. This intuitive appeal of anything beautiful, which attracts one innately without thinking, rationalizing and intellectualizing.”