Raqib Shaw: Opulent Visions and Mythic Narratives
Raqib Shaw, a Kashmiri-born artist based in London, is acclaimed for his opulent, hyper-detailed paintings that blend Persian miniatures, Japanese lacquerware, and European baroque traditions. Using enamel, gold, and rhinestones, Shaw creates theatrical worlds rich with symbolism, exploring themes of exile, desire, violence, and control. Painting with a porcupine quill and metal nib, he transforms personal trauma into layered visual tapestries. His work demands that viewers linger, proving that fantasy is not mere escape but a profound confrontation with history, identity, and protest.