Art exhibition: Newly-minted graduates explore dreams and the reality of fairytales

Theses of NCA students showcased at the National Art Gallery.

ISLAMABAD:

It is always refreshing to witness works of bright-eyed young artists who seem to put their heart and soul into their work. Graduating students from the National College of Arts Rawalpindi showcased their theses at the Pakistan National College of the Arts on Wednesday, with an excited crowd of college fellows in attendance who showed up in droves to offer moral support.

The works ranging from miniature, oil-on-canvas, printmaking and mixed media are all an interesting mesh of varied techniques and inspirations. As Xahra Hafeez explores her dreams and portrays her innermost desires in a mocking style with hanging suitcases that depict the weight of reality keeping her grounded.

Schezre Syed’s “Blind Print” series gives a take on her perception on writing a book and images. “I started writing diaries long ago. With time my writing became imagery,” she said. I was intrigued by the fact that so much information and fleeting images remain etched on our minds, she added. One piece consists of completely blank white pages which according to the artist is the “eloquence of the unspoken” where too many emotions and feelings swamp the mind and cannot be penned down.



The only artist to have used painting as her medium is Hera Shakoor. Her work is minimalistic. She paints self-images in which she is completely bald with no facial hair. Her only companion on the canvas is a  yellow chick who curiously peers at the viewers from the canvas. Shakoor’s brushstrokes are very refined and her technique seems immaculate as she manages to create a smooth texture with each stroke.

“I’ve showed the relationship between fantasy and reality,” said Ayesha Hasan of her deconstruction of fairytales. “The real story and not the fairytale we are led to believe as children,” she said. With the so-called happily ever after princess slaving in the kitchen making chapattis and cleaning the house or the aging woman frantically trying on various creams to maintain her youth, Hasan’s work is full of humour.

The exhibition continues till April 3 and is a must-visit for those seeking art with a punch.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2013.