This site-specific installation at Shahi Hamam Lahore integrates multiple video projections, gouache on paper, and a textile piece adorned with gold-plated steel pins. The work is dispersed across various spaces within the Shahi Hamam, creating a cohesive dialogue between the installation and the historical setting.

Shahi Hamam, or “Royal Baths,” is a Persian-style bathhouse constructed in Lahore in 1635 C.E. during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. Over the centuries, the building has served various functions, each layer of its history contributing to its rich narrative. Despite its current state of partial ruin, the beauty of the Hamam persists, visible in the surviving frescoes and the restored structure.

As a Lahore-based artist, the artist has witnessed significant changes in the city over the past three decades. Recently, Lahore has been experiencing rapid urban development, marked by extensive concrete construction. This transformation resonates with the artist, particularly through the vivid imagery of orange life jackets worn by Syrian refugees. These life jackets, frequently seen in media and associated with modern transportation, symbolize a stark contrast to the historical cityscape and highlight the tension between the past and the present.

The installation reflects on these themes, using the historical context of Shahi Hamam and the contemporary symbolism of the life jackets to explore the impact of rapid change on Lahore’s cultural and historical identity.