Art attack

exhibition

Recently, an exhibition comprising 45 artists took place in Karachi. You! takes a look...

Amean J (Walking the fine line)

Art is an entity that manages to break all language, cultural and social barriers. Most importantly, art exhibits are a must for the youth of today as it can inspire them and open up their minds. Even viewing art can strike creativity amongst the hearts and minds of the spectators, hence, art exhibitions are a must! Amongst the many art exhibits taking place in Karachi, the one that managed to leave us impressed was ‘Summerscape’, which took place at Koel Gallery. Yes, the weather may be smoldering hot, but creative artwork that is a breath of fresh air is all you need to soothe your senses.

R.M Naeem (Measured)

What’s special about Summerscape? This exhibition takes place annually and is recognized due to the large number of contemporary artists who display their work under one roof. This time round, the work of 45 artists was displayed in the gallery which included some senior artists as well as a few new names. Amongst many others, there were artworks of Naheed Raza, Meher Afroz, Afshar Malik, R.M. Naeem, Farrukh Shahab, Nazish Ataullah and Roohi Ahmed. Another interesting fact about this exhibit was that each artist followed a different theme and form of expression, hence, providing the viewers with variety.  For instance, the exhibit ‘Esteemed Mr President’ by Saad Ahmed was of a sociopolitical nature and reflected problems in the affairs of the state of our country.

Another art piece titled ‘Winged thoughts’ was shaped like a ‘takhti’ (slate) with small human figures that had wings. With this sculpture, the artist Abdul Jabbar Gul was trying to represent the power of education and how it can give flight to dreams. The art piece spoke of how education opens doorways of opportunities for one and gives them the power to envision a successful future. On the other hand, it also portrayed how education is a desire for those who can’t afford it.

One more interesting piece was ‘Storyteller’ by Madiha Sikander. It was the thought behind this exhibit that made it so nostalgic since it represented the many story books we have grown up reading. The exhibit emphasised on the traditional culture of book reading and storytelling and how important it is in personality development as well as a memorable childhood experience. The slight worn out and slightly new, appearance of the art piece also reflected the idea that storytelling and print is slowly disappearing as the world of internet and social media is taking over.

Amean J’s ‘Walking the fine line between light and shade’ (digital print) on the other hand, took the focus away from the worldly to the aesthetic. Even though the image was a simple one, the light and shade difference managed to grab many appreciative glances.

 Moreover, Sarah Mir’s work managed to strike everyone with awe because of the underlining meaning her artwork contained. The picture was fuzzy and included unclear shapes drawn in shades of black, white and grey. A human figure was also spotted in the picture however, the face was unclear. The distorted face depicted the side of some people that we never get to see as it seldom comes to the fore.

‘Measured’ by R. M. Naeem was another piece that took a look into the concealed side of people. This particular artwork was acrylic on canvas and was exquisite to view as it included a few vibrant colours and a unique concept. The drawing also spoke about how imbalanced and calculated the world is.

Another exhibit worth mentioning was ‘Suspended’ by Sara Suleman. The piece was made in brass and included brass plates elevating towards the roof. Aliya Yousuf’s ‘Invite’ on the other hand was a sculpted piece that was rich in organic forms, made from white stoneware, salt, soda baked in wood fire. The sculpture appeared to be a hybrid between a predatory oceanic plant and a seashell.

However, it was the drawing ‘Candy boy’, in charcoal, pastel and pencil on paper that amused us the most. The piece by Shahana Afaq showed a child’s obsession with candy. The look on his face showed his greed and want for the candy and we couldn’t help but reflect on our childhood where we too, could be easily manipulated or punished with the use of candy. Adults crave so many material objects while an innocent child can easily be pleased with candy.

Overall, the exhibition was a memorable one because of the wide array of art work displayed and proved to be a haven of creativity for art lovers. Exhibitions like these are a must and add tremendously to the encouragement and promotion of arts and crafts in our country.