Bio

Muzzumil Ruheel began his artistic journey as a traditional calligrapher. He pursued further education at Beaconhouse National University, and his career expanded into teaching roles at institutions such as the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi, the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University in Lahore, and the Visual Studies Department at Karachi University. Muzzumil's artistic endeavors have led him to participate in several national and international exhibitions, including the Young Moscow Biennale, Colombo Art Biennale, Lahore Biennale, Cairo Documenta, Karachi Biennale, Kaladham Museum, Wip Konstall, Museo Diocesano Carlo Maria Martini, Darmstadt Museum, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Universität der Künste, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Art Dubai, and the India Art Fair. In addition to numerous solo exhibitions across Pakistan, India, the UK, Germany, Dubai, and the USA, his work has found its place in various private and international art collections and has been featured in many important art publications.


Artist Statement | Knowledge of the Ancients

These works are from the body of work titled "Choose Your Words Carefully," where I explore how language and knowledge are controlled and sanitized, much like how history is selectively archived. The pieces reflect my perspective on how, in today’s world, words are chosen so cautiously that they often lose their meaning. This mirrors the way indigenous knowledge, ancient history, and cultural traditions have been documented over time.

By using abstract forms of text—removing the context from the words so they appear as remnants of the text—I invite viewers to reflect on what is being left unsaid and how the curation of knowledge shapes our understanding. This work expresses my interest in the evolution of language and its response to shifting knowledge systems. It serves as a commentary on the limitations we face in truly expressing ourselves today and asks: if these histories and knowledge systems existed in today’s context, what would we uncover when we look back and start to question them?

Muzzumil Ruheel

 Character 12 round and around | 2022 | 12 x 17 x 12 inches Approx | Paint on metal | POR