Rejected by snooty galleries? Put your work in the Warehouse

The Warehouse is for any aspiring artist or anyone with any work to show off.

KARACHI: When Beenish Umer’s work was rejected for a show because of a deadline, the artist decided that the best way to be seen was to get her own space. But the Warehouse, that she has created with two Indus Valley school friends, is not just for them, it is for any aspiring artist or anyone with any work to show off.

“I think I was finally pushed over the edge after I couldn’t participate in a show because I was just one day late with my registration,” said Beenish. “Here, everything does not work by the clock and were much more flexible.” The Warehouse can now be used to put anything up for show, clothes, art, furniture, jewellery - you name it.

The low-ceilinged space, which opened Sunday, is located in Nishat Commercial Area, DHA. It took Beenish, Umer Adil and Naveed Saleem about a year to get the gallery up and running from the time they came up with the concept.

“Any one can approach us to put their work for display, even if it is just one piece,” said film-maker and photographer Umer Adil, whose own work is up. “The gallery is more of a linking point. We want to link artists to the consumer, especially since we are established and know a lot of people in the field. It’s a great opportunity for young artists who otherwise would not be given the opportunity to display their work.”

The Warehouse does not look at who the artist is, how recognised they are and where they come from.

The third partner, Naveed Saleem, is an architect by profession and has taught at both IVS and NED. “What drove me to join the project were students, who I want to stay connected to the art form,” he said. Saleem regretted that there was a lack of maturity in the art scene in Karachi. “There’s just not enough promotion of the arts.”

“The problem is that a lot of students are lazy. They lack initiative. By opening this space, were trying to push and expose students and all art forms, including more contemporary forms such as digital art,” stressed Naveed.

Najia Omer, artist and Beenish’s sister-in-law, was one of the popular artists that day. Most art enthusiasts noticed her mixed medium on canvas turquoise blue piece in which she combined doilies, pen and stitch marks and silver ‘tila’ thread over an acrylic base.

“I like to play with textures,” explained Omer, unwilling to reveal the secret behind the print-like effect. “The doilies symbolise the perfect house-wife.”

Gardener by profession, Tofiq Pasha Mooraj admired the piece ‘Why so serious?’ “The artist used digital print. I have to be honest, this is my favourite piece but I’m biased because it’s my daughters work,” he laughed. Mooraj expressed his satisfaction with the art scene in Pakistan. “The kids have come up with a unique concept. After the dark 80s when art was frowned upon, it goes to show that the art scene is really re-emerging,” he added.

The other artists included Malika Abbass, Filza Ahmed, Eman Mahmood, Sivim A Naqvi, Kanza Samad, Mohammad Jamil and Adam Abdullah.

Their work will continue to be shown at the gallery till February 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2011.