Maqam/Place #4

About Maqam/Place #4

Expressive and lyrical, Shireen Kamran’s new series of abstract paintings continues her tradition of honouring her Pakistani heritage. Gestural brush strokes, dots and lines in earthy colours—ochre, gray blue, brown, white are highlighted by white and red evoke a sense of serenity.

The word, maqām, means ‘place of residence’ in Arabic and refers to the spiritual journey followed by Muslim mystics. Kamran often references a form of Islamic mysticism called Sufism.

“I am very inspired by Sufi culture, a constant thread in my work, this concept of Sufi philosophy, reading Rumi etc. I don’t paint in the traditional way–it’s how I express it on canvas.” Shireen Kamran

Born in Lahore, Pakistan she received a BSc. degree from the University of Peshawar, Pakistan and a BFA from Concordia University, Montreal. Her work is held in private collections in Canada and abroad.