Azadari and Art
The 12th edition of Mashq-e-Arba’een, Dark’e Azadari commenced in the Kashmir Arts Emporium on 23 August 2024. Mashq-e-Arba’een is an art exhibition held annually for the occasion of Arba’een. For starters, the day of Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn Ibn Ali (AS) in Karbala. Arba’een is the 40th day after Ashura, it marks the 40th day of mourning. In Persian, mourning is called Azadari. Simply, Mashq-e-Azaadri, Dark’e Azadari means the practice of Arabeen and understanding the mourning.
The concept behind this exhibition is commendable. Using art as a medium of mourning strikes me a lot. The concept of elegy through visual arts, calligraphy and photography, rather than solely traditional poetry. It not only revolutionizes how emotions are expressed but also the way they are felt. It also caters to the modern audience, who are interested in seeing rather than reading.
I went to the exhibition with my mother. I had a great time. I met the curator, Iliyas Rizvi, who is a cool and knowledgeable person. The moment one enters the exhibition, the environment changes. The walls are all black, and everything is peacefully silent, leading to a mournful, but also calm mood. The exhibition is divided into four sections, featuring calligraphy, visual arts, photography and poetry.
The art speaks to you, and that adds to the emotion. The exhibition stays true to its name of Dark’e Azadari. The art creates an understanding of the mourning and acts as a window to the emotions that are evoked about the Battle of Karbala. The exhibition does not aim to send you back to Karbala, acting as a time machine. But rather it focuses on the here and now. It highlights the tradition of Azadari followed now and shares the feelings felt by thousands of devotees around Kashmir, and the world.
The calligraphy section features Arabic writings and Quranic verses. Beautiful calligraphy that blends what is seen and what is written. “Purity of writing is purity of the soul” states an old Arabic saying. Of course, purity of the soul is important when it comes to the understanding and practice of mourning Husayn Ibn Ali (AS). Pure writing not only reflects this sentiment but adds to it, ensuring the message looks beautiful, while preserving its meaning.
The paintings displayed at the exhibition were marvellous. Being modest, yet impactful.
They evoked emotions that can only be felt while imagining the atrocities in the battle of Karbala. The paintings try to capture the moments in time, that define mourning and sadness. The sheer weight of emotions adds to the mourning. They convey the reason behind the mourning, the reason why Karbala is important.
The photography section captured the emotions of devotees. There were lovely pictures of devotees in Kashmir, practising Azadari. Many old pictures depict the evolution and age of Azadari. The emotions of people and the magnificence of the events. It was a direct way to witness Azadari in action.
I was surprised to see a small, yet amazing section dedicated to Artificial Intelligence.
There were a few pictures that were generated by AI. It was a new concept of Azadari, Art and AI! I was convinced that the exhibition was a modern way of conveying emotions. The inclusion of technology was a testament to changing times and emotions. How AI may try to convey an important message, that humans have done masterfully.
When I saw the AI-generated art, I realised the sheer beauty of the human mind. There are things that only a human can do and do pretty well. After going through the entire exhibition, and witnessing the art motivated by emotion, I realised that prompts can never beat emotion. AI may match the skills of humans in future, but the feeling and the vibe will always be missing.
Leaving the exhibition, I felt calm yet gloomy. It offered a new perspective on Azadari, revealing deeper connections between mourning, meaning, and memory. The displays illustrated how grief blends with cultural identity and spirituality.
(The author is a student of Humanities at DPS Srinagar)
