By Adnan Hameed
TWA
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The Renowned photographer Ferrante Ferranti transported art enthusiasts on an extraordinary visual odyssey with his captivating exhibition, ‘From Troy to Lahore,’ curated by Shah Zaman Baloch. The mesmerizing showcase, held within the distinguished premises of the French Embassy, traces the footsteps of legendary figures such as Alexander the Great and Nicolas Bouvier.
The event was inaugurated by Gillaume DABOUTS, Charge d’Affaires of the French Embassy, who eloquently introduced the artist and set the stage for a profound exploration of Ferranti’s artistic journey.
In recounting his inspirational genesis, Ferranti shared that his quest began in 1980, fueled by the epics of Homer, the Iliad, and the Odyssey. Enthralled by the myth of Alexander the Great, he embarked on an initiatory pilgrimage, seeking the oracles not only in the heart of Greece but also in the East at Didymus, in Minor Asia, and on the West at Cumae, near Vesuvius. His exploration extended to the southern oasis of Siwa, where Alexander the Great sought divine guidance, shaping the course of history.
Venturing into Anatolia and along the Euphrates, Ferranti immersed himself in the spiritual tapestry of the crossroads between East and West. Greek inscriptions at Mount Nemrut unfolded the tales of a king born of Alexander’s conquests, while at Urfa, the presumed birthplace of Abraham, diverse religious influences converged. The artist witnessed Friday prayers at Hierapolis, where Roman peristyles conjured visions of Persian miniatures.
Ferranti’s odyssey continued into Armenia, where he explored ancient caravanserais, and Georgia, where churches overlooked the plains of Azerbaijan. It wasn’t until 1997 that a new guide, Nicolas Bouvier, illuminated his path further eastward. Bouvier’s seminal work, ‘The Way of the World,’ became Ferranti’s travel breviary, leading him through Iran, from Tabriz to Persepolis, unveiling the profound mystique of Sufism.
‘From Troy to Lahore’ is a thousand-year-old palimpsest, an artistic revelation of historical layers and cultural intersections, expertly captured through Ferrante Ferranti’s lens. The exhibition stands as a testament to the enduring power of myth and the universal language of visual storytelling.
