Zafar Ali’s solo show was recently held at Numaish Gah Gallery in Lahore.

The artist shares, “my work provides an insight into the essence of Sufism which teaches that, the genuine change begins within the heart and mind of an individual. It then creates a ripple effect which permeates the entire community. Among my discoveries, the key concept that I explore further is that ‘unity is manifested through destiny.’ This perspective transcends religious, cultural and social boundaries and accepts every individual as a unique expression of Divine. My research is to collect and investigate lives, wisdom and teachings of Sufis like Ibn-e-Arabi, Bhaghat Kabir, Farid-ud-din Attar, Nizami Ganjavi, Baba Bullah Shah, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, and many others. Their wisdom has constantly been spreading over centuries beyond the confines of race, region, cast, creed, age and gender and still reflects on the lifestyle, choices, beliefs, fears, desires, cognitive structures, existential journey and self-realisation of many today. This body of work is highly inspired by the ‘conference of birds’ from Mantiq-ut0 Tair and is a metaphorical representation of human desires, search for truth, self-realization and becoming one with the divine.”

In Zafar’s work one figures and birds are isolated against expansive, unmodulated backgrounds, creating a sense of suspension and timelessness. The compositions rely on rhythm and patterns, allowing movement, ritual and contemplation to unfold across the surface.

The colour palette employed across his paintings is bold and saturated. The contrast between vibrant backgrounds and more naturalistic rendering of bodies and birds heightens the sense of transcendence, suggesting inner states rather than physical location.

Together his paintings use controlled technique, symbolic colour and minimalist spatial language to explore. Zafar Ali’s work in this series affirms art as a quiet yet profound act of seeking.

CAPTION
Assembly of Abstracted, Gouache on Wasli, 26.5 × 20.5 inches, 2025
Birds of Eternity ll, Gouache on Wasli, 26.5 × 20.5 inches, 2025