Still the Grass Grows

Reception + artist-led workshop: Sept 25 from  6:30–8:30 pm
In-person tour: Sept 4 at 6:30 pm
Virtual tour: Sept 19 at noon on Facebook Live

When entering her studio, Heraa Khan follows the same rituals that have been in place since the Mughal Empire, which ruled India and Pakistan from the 16th to 19th century. Heraa creates masavari, traditional Indo-Persian miniature paintings, training at the National College of Art in Lahore, Pakistan. The smallest brush strokes are layered one on top of another, building up jewel-toned colours with incredible depth and mesmerizing details.

While her techniques and tools are grounded in a historical tradition, the subjects of Heraa’s work in Still the Grass Grows are very much present in the present. Human civilization has radically altered the balance of our world, creating an unprecedented climate crisis. 

We are living the consequences of prioritizing progress over balance, extraction over preservation. The art of masavari has always been used to share stories, and with Still the Grass Grows Heraa Khan is painting the story of our time.