You are here

10 Year Old Abbas Asks "Why don't Westerners copy Easterners' Art?"

I had the pleasure of meeting Abbas while playing "The Game of Crustopoly" at the "Encounters on the Frontier" exhibit by Mohsin Shafi and myself in Pakistan.  I was impressed by Abbas' quick wit and questioning mind.  He commented on how Native Americans are called "Indians" because of the mistake of the first European settlers in North America and how funny that is.  Perhaps we continue that mistaken tradition by not understanding and honoring Eastern culture and Islam enough. And when Abbas asked me: "Why don't Westerners copy Eastern art?" while noting that Easterners study and are influenced by Western art, I decided to create these new works.  

On the top is "Pilgrimage" and on the bottom is "Place of No Tomorrow."  Both are mixed media on panel 30" x 30"  2014.

Please come to our upcoming first exhibit together in the USA:

Encounters on the Frontier:      UPSIDEDOWNLAND

Everybody knows that we are right-side up and they are upside down.  Or is it the other way around?

Mohsin Shafi, Pakistan and Andrew Purchin, USA met by chance in 2011 in the digital cloud.  Through the cadences of their voices and the gestures of their bodies, the pair initiated a collaborative creative relationship, that contrasts the conflicts between their cultures and states. 

In 2014 the duo created an exhibit in Lahore, Pakistan which was entitled, Encounters on the Frontier.  Now with the spin of the globe, the world gets turned upside down.

The Residency:  July 23 – August 7  Go to www.andrewpurchin.com/news to find out about the open studio hours.

The Workshop:  Participants will be guided through experiences that will in part, inform Mohsin and Andrew’s new work and exhibit.     Sunday July 26th  2-4pm Free! Space is limited.  Register: Andrew@andrewpurchin.com

The Exhibition:  August 7 – August 16th.   Wednesday – Sunday 12-5pm or by appointment.

First Friday Reception:  August 7  6-9pm

Artists Talk and Reception:  Saturday August 15th 2-4PM

All events are at the Radius Gallery: 1050 River Street #127 Santa Cruz, CA 95060  - On the Tannery Art Center Campus (831) 706-1620  

Artwork Pager

Artwork Pager

Artwork Pager