Inferno by Shabir Beigh

Why Inferno? It erupted from a surge of furious energy after a creative lull. Art thrives on freedom, emotion, and experience—placing deadlines on it can feel like a cage. Shackled by duty and responsibility, frustration simmered within me. I knew I would erupt, and the best place to capture that inevitable explosion? A canvas.

Pacing in front of a blank space, I traced the outline of a new bull—not with charcoal, but with my fingertip, feeling the rough texture beneath it. Something crackled inside me. Headphones on. Volume up. The frenzy began.

I needed the electric storm in my mind to spill onto the canvas. Engaging myself with an intensity I hadn’t felt in a long time, I captured the bull’s power through erratic, agitated lines. Punjabi rock blasted through my speakers as charcoal and brushes became my instruments. In my relentless attack of strokes, I imagined hooves kicking up dust, sparks flying, the beast ready to charge.

Now, behold a bull infused with life, passion, and raw emotion. The striking, punishing lines are amplified by bold, unapologetic colours—Cadmium Scarlet and Prussian Blue—chosen to command attention, just as the chords of a song move the soul.

In a world fraught with uncertainty, societal dissatisfaction, and tension, Inferno is more than a painting. It’s a call to action—to find strength in character, courage in determination, and self-autonomy where there is none.