Hafiz Jalandhari’s shah nama-i-islam...

is ginormously fantabulous. Okay so I can’t understand all the words but it is a marvellous piece of work. Urdu adab is so wonderful. I have finally managed to sort of work out how to convert Iqbal’s shikwa and jawab into a painting. I’m going to go for a 5ft by 5 ft or a 6ft by 6ft sized canvas: enamels, oils and master quality acrylics only.

Considering it’s a piece which will, inshAllah, be viewed by many and is the first of my series of serious serious orks, I have to start looking after my paintings and not expose them to heat, light, the steam from my iron and the knocks from my feet. I’d go for a studio and a warehouse but travelling to a studio will completely sap me of my fucking drive.

Umer M