Paradise Lost At The Art Institute of Chicago!!!

There are many extravagant pieces of art when it comes to The Art Institute of Chicago. There is one though that offers a journey of one artists life and vision. It would be an illustration that takes you into finding fulfillment and enlightenment as well as destruction for the vision this artists had. It also covers a country that I look forward to traveling to by post it note.

Indian artists Raqib Shaw was born in the country of India. His early career was spent with the family business in New Delhi where he was involved in his uncle's business of selling jewelry, carpets, fabrics, and other items as well as being involved in architecture and interior design. This would lead to his eventual passion for his home country of India and the arts. His works would become legendary including the one found at The Art Institute of Chicago.

Raqib's Shaw's art piece known as Paradise Lost is an illustration of the enlightenment of the beginning of his beloved country to the eventual collapse that would occur. Raqib born in Kashmir near the Himalayan Valley. In 1989 militant led violence would disrupt his life causing his family to flee. The painting shows his peace as early childhood to where the chaos began with the fleeing of the area to New Delhi to eventually London. The painting is 100 feet in length and offers mythological creatures that illustrate the events. In the 17th century book by John Milton he describes India as a place of paradise to where Raqib is able to express those emotions to the militant led violence.

It is a beautiful and fascinating piece of work that took nearly 15 years to complete. Raqib Shaw has never been able to return to his home country but his memory is fixed with the pain that occurred that is expressed in the art piece Paradise Lost. The Paradise Loss painting is located on the first level in the Asian and India area of The Art Institute of Chicago and is worth checking out. #ridingwithkurt #postit

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