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| Source: Google Cultural Institute website. |
The Google Cultural Institute has placed images of artworks, collections and stories from around the world online so that they can be explored in detail and shared socially.
One such collection is the Opening Exhibition of the AAN Collection on the Google Cultural
Institute, Pakistan, Moment/Momentum – Contemporary Art From Pakistan, which debuted in April 2015. The exhibition focuses on the works of Modernist Zahoor-Ul-Akhlaque and the contemporary artists who followed his lead. The exhibition included the works of Ul-Akhlaque and the contemporary artworks of Shahzia Sikander, Imran Qureshi, Rashid Rana, Aisha Khalid, Naiza Khan and Faiza Butt.
Believed to be the largest and most comprehensive collection of Pakistan visual art to date, the AAN collection is a private collection of Asian art primarily focused on Pakistani modern and contemporary art. The collection consists of works ranging from third century Gandhara to contemporary artworks.
The title of the collection, ‘AAN’, is derived from an Urdu word (Aan) and literally means both ‘honour’ as well as ‘a moment’. The title also fits in well with the acronym of the collectors names. The collection honours the tradition, creativity and ingenuity of Pakistani artists.
There are sculptures, works on paper and canvas, photographic works, video installations, light boxes and other new media works in this collection. The largest work is Desperately Seeking Paradise by Rashid Rana, a cubic sculpture which reaches over ten feet in height, while the smallest works are Mughal miniatures painted on ivory as well as contemporary miniatures by Ahsan Jamal which are 3" in diameter.
According to the collectors, “What makes it such a unique as well as robust collection is that the works have been collected because we loved them and with a vision to capture the art of those before us as well as of those artists who live and work in this time. A snapshot of the time we exist in as well as a nod to our past."