Apr

6

Human Anatomy as Visual Art

Filed Under Art, India, Pakistan, United States 

by Taimur H. Khan

CochleaThree years ago from this week, I completed my art thesis at Bates College (Lewiston, ME, USA). I believe I have changed a lot as a person between then and now – with respect to my priorities, what I value in life, and in where my interests lie (medically, artistically,etc.) –  but some of my fundamental interests in visual arts remain the same.

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Here are some quotes from my artist statement, from 2007, that still hold weight.

… I make art to amaze, intrigue and amuse my audiences…. I focus my work on aesthetics, creating art that is visually gratifying to my audience and me. In my search for aesthetic beauty, I look for engaging curves and lines that attract my eye and force me to follow them. I aim to create exciting compositions, where imagery fills and activates a canvas, page, or architectural space.

View_Down Ground_Floor_Up

With respect to my senior year work, both etchings and the installation work I created for the Bates College Museum, I wrote:

….For my site-specific installation piece in the Museum stairwell, I used antique clinical anatomical studies as source material, enlarging and abstracting them to emphasize aspects of form and movement…. By working large scale, I want to encourage viewers to adventure through what may seem gross to some, in order to find the complex beauty of what is usually invisible, and literally inside of them.

reflective_Eye

….To provide a sense of unity in this installation, I used decorative motifs and abstract geometric shapes to link all the bodily forms, trying to give a sense of fluidity to the overall composition. The patterns and intricate designs are a product of my cultural and religious upbringing; I have been influenced by my exposure to Indian Sub-continental artwork, henna body paint motifs, and Islamic artwork and tiling.

Heart

Currently my pseudo-professional life as an artist is currently on hold, as I pursue my medical career. Whether or not it will pop back up into the forefront in the near future is still a mystery.

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Comments

5 Responses to “Human Anatomy as Visual Art”

  1. Rubina on April 6th, 2010 7:50 pm

    Amazing and beautiful. I hope you keep the artist in you live and kicking.

  2. aamir shah on April 6th, 2010 7:51 pm

    Mashallah what a pleasure to read and see Taimur’s creations.
    Aamir

  3. Izaz Haque on April 7th, 2010 8:55 pm

    absolutely phenomenal!

  4. subas pradhan on October 7th, 2010 7:02 am

    Excellent collection from an oriental perspective. Where can we see more of your collection? Best wishes with your medical career. Hope you do not sacrifice the artistic angle!
    Subas

    Imran Reply:
    October 8th, 2010 at 1:36 am

    You can see some more of his art at

    http://imranhkhan.com/2010/10/08/chaudhry-namdar-khan-sahibs-great-great-great-grandsons-birthday/