Deep in thought: Private moments captured with a finger stroke

Artist Zahid Hassan's solo show depicts the sensuous beauty of women

KARACHI: Decades back, when Saleem Lalani was 18-years-old, he paid his first visit to the Louvre Gallery in Paris. Fast forward to 12 years ago, he opened a gallery by the same name in Karachi but for the past three years, no exhibitions were held there.

However, on Saturday evening, his gallery opened its doors and hosted an exhibition titled 'I Am Woman', featuring the works of artist Zahid Hassan.

Hassan has been painting since he was 15-years-old and first painted landscapes and floral art. About 30 years ago he started painting faceless women because he missed his mother.



The 26 portraits on display at Louvre Gallery show women lying on sofas, standing upright and looking out of the window with their backs to the painter. All the women have their long flowing hair open and are wearing either mostly red or beige coloured saris or other traditional clothing. While the paintings may seem reminiscent of other, older artwork that has depicted Indian princesses or queens in their boudoirs, Hassan has a unique way of painting that sets him apart from other artists of his ilk. "I paint with my thumb, bare hands, fingers and nails, all without touching a brush," he said.

"As a child of 15, I learnt from the Germans how to paint using no brush strokes or knife and instead using bare hands," he Hassan explained.



"I never show the faces of these women, because I want an element of mystery to surround these paintings," he said. Indeed, all of the women in the paintings are facing away from the painter and almost all of them are gazing thoughtfully at the moon. Many of the women are posed sensuously, relaxed in stature but lost in thought, leaving viewers to determine what exactly they are thinking about. Viewers do, however, get the feel of intruding on a private moment by looking at the paintings.

When asked  how long it takes for him to complete a series, the artist said it depends on his mood. "When I get immersed in it, however, it becomes better than the previous work. I have no remorse," he said.

With 26 oil-on-board paintings on display, Hassan promises to continue for as long as he can paint. The show will run till November 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st , 2016.