‘Roof-Walls-Floor’: Group show with a multi-dimensional focus

Rohtas Gallery brings group show of four graduates from Karachi’s Indus Valley.


Momina Sibtain February 23, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Rohtas Gallery has brought a group show of four graduates from Karachi’s Indus Valley. The artists Muhammad Ali, Sammer Sultan, Aisha Rajar and Tuba Zaki present a multi-dimensional collection experimenting with an eclectic array of mediums. The exhibit titled “Roof Walls Floor” opened on Tuesday here at the Rohtas Gallery and is scheduled to continue till the end of the month.

Ali’s work is a catharsis of feelings and the complexity of human sexuality. Using digital prints, the artist envelops his feelings regarding homosexuality and the lack of sexual expression available to people around him.

The rose usually stands for love and passion but historically it has been used as the symbol for Virgin Mary. The artist, hence, depicts his feeble sexual expression via the use of red roses scattered at the feet of a man.

“My intention is to generate a deep emotional eruption towards acceptance and understanding of the complexities associated with human sexuality,” said Ali.

In contrast, Sultan captures the bigger picture with her life-size installations. The idea of infinity is most prominently admired and enhanced in Sultan’s work. “It’s about looking at both the micro and macro perspectives.

The idea of infinity gets smaller and smaller, and at the same time grows and becomes a larger whole,” explained Sultan.

The use of glitter and Mokaish (clothing embellishment popularly used in southern Punjab), creates a mosaic of ideas and allows Sultan’s work to
stand out.

Rajar’s digital prints on canvas depict immense movement. Playing with clothes, the artist represents different layers that possess an individual. “This layering is not just of loss, but the environment, cultural practices, political and social mess,” said Rajar. “I want to shred these unwanted layers. My focus is the human body as a receptacle of these burdens.”

Zaki on the other hand works with miniatures, exploring types of kitchen utensils that show aggression.

Her sculpture of a bed with a grater as the lining shows aggression and morbidity.

The eclectic collection is sure to leave the viewers with a plethora of emotions.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2011.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ