Aslam’s quartet of horses created in 2018 are a corollary of conversations amongst these most magnificent creatures as the prance and grace both sunrise and sunset.This set of four works recall the brilliance of the poet Alfred Noyes when he wrote his epic poem The Highway Man.
These four works present an epithet of nocturnes to us in rhyme and rhythm.
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees. The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas. The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, And the highwayman came riding— Riding—riding—
These four works are about strength and movement. Aslam uses a number of techniques to create action, drama, passion and tension. He focuses on setting the scene with particular attention given to the mood and atmosphere creating both action within the gamut of colour when he gives us shades of blue or scarlet or verdant green. We can think of the use of ‘metaphors’ and rekindle in our minds the phrases used by Noyes to describe that winter night when the wind was in the trees, with phrases such as, ‘torrent of darkness’, ‘ghostly galleon’ and ‘ribbon of moonlight’ to help create a vivid image of mystery,’ of the coldness winter and seraphim like atmospherics.
ASLAM SHAIKH
Desert Sunrise
Acrylic on Canvas
54 x 80 inches
2018