Perhaps the most misunderstood creature on this planet could be the Dog. Not just
individually but as a whole species. While they roam the streets, forever begging and
searching for food, they seem to forget that they hail from the long line of majestic wolves
who seem to sell their souls to the humans, hoping to get some leftover scraps
and a place by fire in the freezing cold. Since then they have been exploited by our race,
degraded and defiled brought to the streets to live on gutters and garbage.
The trials and tribulations of this gentle yet unappreciated species were recently on display
in Kaleidoscope Kontemporary by Musawir Shabbir and Ali Lariab. They show how the
footprint of the human race has left a mark on a simple dog’s stomach, which aches in
perpetuity, whether from hunger or a kick in the gut.
The artworks provided a poetic depiction of the significant contributions of industrialization
and urbanization to the demise of canine habitats. As cities expanded and rural areas
became increasingly crowded, the overpopulation of dogs and inadequate hygiene practices
exacerbated the challenges faced by these innocent creatures. Sadly, children often engage
in teasing behavior, which intensifies their distress. When provoked, a dog may react
defensively, but often it is forgotten or ignored that it rarely initiates aggression unless feels
threatened or cornered.
There were several lean dogs on display, with their ribs protruding out of their shiny skin
which was illuminated on the canvas through black ink. Some lonesome dogs were
individually painted with dark watercolor impressions on paper depicting various positions in
which they rest briefly in small blissful intervals. The dogs shown in the paintings and prints
of these artists delineated their toughness in rough surroundings, their madness which is
often imposed, the badness that comes off in their stink, the moment before barking and
their ultimate demise; decomposing bodies coalescing with the fading landscape, shrouded
in overgrown grass.
Some dogs in Ali Lariab’s paintings seemed to express a rejection of a submissive and
comfortable life, characterized by dependence on humans and seeking their approval.
Instead, they had an impression that embraced a solitary, adventurous, and imbued
preference for a rugged path.
They would rather be called useless dogs of the streets, who are spared from empathy,
whose taste is filth, and whose lives earning is the curse of time. Scorned everywhere, these
dogs would neither rest at night nor rest in the morning, they are either hungry or will die of
hunger. They won’t ever be oppressed by any man and will not lower their heads in
obedience.
However, not all dogs are dismissed. There are a few in the world who have forgotten all
their rebellion and are adorned by the owners. They’ve become kings and queens of the
household who enjoy treats that are meant to be digested by them even if their stomach
rejects them, even if they chew on grass later, they would not anything go to waste.