Playing with techniques: Alia Bilgrami takes to different mediums to express sensitivity

KARACHI:

Some things, though ordinary and simple, affect us so deeply that they become evident as part of us. The recurring motif of a pinecone at the Koel gallery speaks of how intensely it affects the artist.

Alia Bilgrami, who is the curator of Khaas gallery in Islamabad, played with different mediums and techniques at the opening of her exhibition, 'Out of the Forest', on Tuesday. Her 'Diorama' series comprises cyanotype photograms on paper that are photographic images created without the use of a camera and are developed by being exposed to ultraviolet light instead of in a dark room.

Emulating Lakhshimibai. PHOTOS: COURTESY KOEL GALLERY

"I used pinecones in all of these," said the young artist. "They are natural objects that fascinate me."

The third of this series was particularly intriguing as the images looked like a ship caught in a storm in the sea. "The pinecones are like wooden flowers and they really interest me," said Bilgrami. "While experimenting with them, I tried to break the pinecones. But they are so resilient that it surprises me. I thought they would be like a sharifa (custard apple) that looks hard but is soft inside."

Bilgrami exhibited a strong kind of sensitivity towards the pinecones. To any other person, they might be just ordinary. But the artist feels special about them. The form of the pinecones is intriguing and she likes to collect them, she said. Pointing towards her pinecone sculptures, she said that she painted them with acrylic and gesso. "Do you see the tiny ones? They are so precious. I couldn't find such little ones again."

In the Light. PHOTOS: COURTESY KOEL GALLERY

The Fort that Was . PHOTOS: COURTESY KOEL GALLERY

When asked why she included newspaper cuttings in her mixed media on wasli 'Diorama Desire' series, she said that we can't avoid newspapers. "It's not an imposition," she said. "You just take in from your environment and it seeps through into your work."

Gallery owner Noorjehan Bilgrami found her works sensitive. "She has come out of her shell and her drawing skills are great," she said.

Photographer Jamal Ashiquain said the colours used are very soft and soothing. "When you think of a forest considering the title of the exhibition, dark colours come to mind," he said. "But here, the palette is so soothing and calm that it feels like you are entering home."



Artist Ammad Tahir was impressed by the technique employed in the 'Diorama' series. "It's so alluring that I'm fascinated. The technique resonates with the title."

Emulating heroic females

Another mixed media on wasli series that was quite striking revolved around the Rani of Jhansi who fought against the British during the 1857 War of Independence. "These three works are the beginning of my next series," said Bilgrami. "I have decided to emulate and celebrate the females of South Asia in my next works."

Memories Afloat. PHOTOS: COURTESY KOEL GALLERY

Out of the Forest III. PHOTOS: COURTESY KOEL GALLERY

Pointing towards a miniature-style painting, she explained that the woman on the horse is Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi but face is not of the rani but of Bilgrami herself - an attempt at emulating the rani.

Another work pertaining to the rani showed the fort that the rani fought to protect. The play of the colours was remarkable. The fort and the background was drawn in pencil and was dim; the deep red colour looking like a stream of flowing blood was striking. It reminds one of how bloody battles were fought against the colonial invaders.

The show is set to run till November 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2014.