For the lack of a better title, today’s entry is dedicated to Salman Toor’s latest exhibition, The Wishmaker. (May 1- Jun 21), at Luhring Augustine Gallery, Chelsea, New York.

A few days ago, my dear old friend Aqdas messaged me from the other side of the globe. “Go become friends with Salman Toor”. “ I am not that cool”, I responded. “Don’t underestimate your cool-ness”. Aqdas commanded. So I mustered some courage and went to Toor’s exhibition. I met Aqdas in 2007, and although we were supposedly dating but most of the time we discussed his marriage proposals arranged by his mother. He was 30 and I was 20. For at least four years during my undergraduate, Aqdas and I talked almost every night. We started in the days of landlines, and by the time I graduated, we had moved to cell phones, but still not smartphones. I left Pakistan in 2010 in pursuit of higher studies, and Aqdas got married. In the last two or three decades, we have tried on several occasions to get married, but somehow, life takes a different turn. Last time, I saw Aqdas (now divorced) in April 2023, he visited New York for a conference. He couldn’t stop laughing when he heard the latest on my entangled love life. “When will you learn your lesson, Maria G? No more married men, puhleez. If your white-man doesn’t return, just call me and I will marry you”. Over the years, our “marriage” has become a running joke between us, a sort of comfort that we both give to each other. I have learnt a lot from Aqdas, and today was one such day.

The opening night was exceptionally well-attended. Salman came out of his hidden alcove. I felt shy to approach and congratulate him, but I was stunned by his beauty and elegance. Salman’s partner, Ali Sethi, is also one of the most celebrated singers in Pakistan, but today was Salman’s night. Within the first forty-five minutes or so, the gallery became unbearably crowded. It was a wonderful experience to see his new work, being celebrated by so many in a city where people have such high standards for art. I have to say, it felt good to be a Pakistani today as well.

Salman’s use of color and detail is not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but each painting tells a story. His work has wit and humour. I found three paintings to be particularly funny: Mommy’s Room, Waiting, and The Scroller. Although I could see a bittersweetness in all the paintings. Toor’s work speaks to us all. His smile and manner said the same about him. How our mothers have an inevitable hold over our lives, how our desperation for sex makes us so clumsy, and how pathetic we look as we scroll on our phones. The show runs until June 21st, 2025.