Art display: When finesse of old, freshness of youth combine

‘Harmony in Diversity’ exhibition showcases 23 artists’ work from a residency programme.

ISLAMABAD:

Art, like any other creative form, is an evolving process. Perhaps that is why when old and young artists come together, a learning experience begins for both.

In the spirit of learning and sharing, 23 artists came together under one roof for a 10-day Art Residency Programme organised by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). The program allowed artists of all ages and backgrounds to work and live together for 10 days at Tumair Village.

The final exhibition showcased at the PNCA gallery, “Harmony in Diversity”, which runs till March 14, had almost all the artists beaming with smiles as they shared from their experiences living together to create art.

“It was a refreshing experience. On one side we had beautiful landscapes, and on the other we had senior artists full of skill. The young artists managed to work with both aspects and learn along with creating,” said Ahmed Habib, an artist who was part of the residency and showcased oil on canvas with vibrant landscapes and a dash of abstract true to his style.

The younger artists used different mediums, such as Mohammad Umar, who worked with gel pen and created a panel of work with straight lines drawing artists themselves hard at work around the village.

Sobia Rehman, on the other hand, created photo print material depicting nature in all its glory but with a blurred feel, with the sunlight pouring through the trees or the edge of a lake with shrubs and trees sprouting along the water line.

Sticking to the more conventional theme, Zahra Shumail Kazmi with her bright palette of yellows and greens, incorporated the landscape around her onto the canvas.

Perhaps the success of the residency was thanks to the lack of an age limit.

“I have done residency aboard and there’s always an age limit. I enjoyed this more as no age limit meant the young and old, senior and junior came together and the mood would just change,” stated Farah Adnan an associate professor at COMSATS and an artist who had created an interesting piece with watercolours on paper, but with levels giving it a slight three-dimensional touch.

Also noticeable was the influence the artists had on each other’s work, for example, senior artist Professor Mohammad Ali Bhatti’s detailed brush strokes managed to influence the young artists next to him who seemed to paint landscapes in similar spirit. “Since we all worked together, we invariably began learning each other’s techniques. So it was natural for the work to become a little cohesive,” said Sobia, another artist.

Installation art was also part and parcel of the exhibition, with one particular piece by Mohammad Zeeshan Yunus standing out as he used wood to create his piece and incorporate it into a hanging frame.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2013.