Blueprints of the Past

Farrukh, a Lahore-based visual artist, explores the ancient echoes of Tulamba, Pakistan, dating to the 2nd century B.C. His artistry blends drawing, research, and personal exploration to unearth the cultural memory of his hometown’s ruins. His childhood fascination with collecting relics from Tulamba fueled his artistic journey, sketching shapes and inscriptions on muddy surfaces. He meticulously conducts on-site research and documentation using his movements and experiences as mapping tools. His dedication has earned him acclaim, with nominations for the Jameel Prize 6 and the Sovereign Asian Art Prize and a shortlist for The Arts Family London Art Award—South Asia 2023. His artworks, exhibited globally from New York to Beijing, delve into themes of space, history, and cultural interconnectedness. Through his creations, he constructs a visual language that resonates with the layered memories and richness of his cultural heritage.

Farrukh’s studio practice is rooted in ancestral connections and archaeology, with a focus on exploring personal memories, collective history, and cultural depictions. Through archival research in his hometown of Tulumba, he bridges the gap between past and present, using memory as a tool to craft independent narratives of time and place. The works of archaeology that delve into personal memories and historical events captivate me, shedding light on how spaces are interpreted within their contexts. Drawing inspiration from this, he curates a journey through abstract and minimalistic language, employing dots, lines, marks, symbols, and patterns to convey the multi layered nature of these aspects.