The Roof Garden Commission: Imran Qureshi

This inaugural volume in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's series on its annual Roof Garden commissions features the work of acclaimed Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi. Extending and challenging the Islamic art traditions in which he trained, Qureshi incorporates the lessons of abstract painting in his investigations into ornamentation, line, and color. From paintings and works on paper that reflect the relationship between Islam and the West to site-specific installations that operate on an architectural scale, the artist examines what connects us across cultures and throughout time. This beautifully illustrated book gives the backdrop for Qureshi's installation at the Metropolitan Museum and discusses the interplay between his vision and the space for which the work was created—particularly its views of Central Park. An illuminating interview with Qureshi highlights the Mughal miniature tradition that inspired his work as well as the social, political, and aesthetic concerns that inform this remarkable commission.