Luminary will be among the first to see the latest work in Raqib Shaw’s magnum opus, Paradise Lost. The massive installation, inspired by John Milton’s 17th-century poem, presents a magnificent allegorical painting of the artist’s tumultuous journey, spanning his childhood growing up in the Vale of Kashmir, his journey to the West, and the many trials and tribulations he faced along the way.
Join Shaw beside the immersive landscape as he discusses his signature iconography and style. Held the evening before public opening, this exclusive viewing will conclude with a champagne toast in celebration of the renowned living artist and his seminal work.
Open to Luminary Silver and above, this program is complimentary and requires advance registration. Please note that this event occurs when the museum is closed to the public, and registered guests will be provided entry instructions in advance of the program.
Paradise Lost (Chapter 1) (detail), 2009-25
Raqib Shaw. Courtesy of the artist. © Raqib Shaw.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Raqib Shaw is a Kashmir-born, London-based artist renowned for his opulent, jewel-like paintings and sculptures. Shaw’s upbringing in a family of merchants surrounded by antiques, textiles, and jewels greatly influenced his distinctive visual language.
His highly detailed, fantastical worlds often feature mythical creatures, warriors and sensual scenes, blending beauty with violence and decadence. His meticulous technique, which recalls the ancient art of cloisonné, involves the use of vibrant enamels, rhinestones, and glitter to create surfaces that shimmer with intricate patterns and vivid colors.
Shaw has exhibited at major institutions, including the Tate Britain, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Scottish National Gallery, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. His first traveling retrospective, Ballads of East and West, continues to tour internationally.
Dr. Madhuvanti Ghose is the inaugural Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art in Arts of Asia. Since joining the museum in 2007, she opened the Alsdorf Galleries in 2008 and has curated and organized numerous exhibitions and installations including Jitish Kallat’s site-specific Public Notice 3 (2010–2011), The Last Harvest: The Art of Rabindranath Tagore (2012), Nilima Sheikh: Each Night Put Kashmir in Your Dreams (2014), and India Modern: The Paintings of M.F. Husain (2017–2018).
Contact Us
Interested in joining Luminary? Please reach out to us at luminary@artic.edu or (312) 443-3735 to begin enjoying the benefits of membership in this dedicated community of art enthusiasts, including exclusive opportunities with artists and curators, behind-the-scene tours, VIP tickets, and invitations to travel.
