Painting exhibition: Of horses and women's suffering

Couple displays paintings, titled 'Perceptive Union', at Artciti Gallery

KARACHI: 'Perceptive Union', currently on display at Artciti Gallery is all about the portrayal of horses and the sufferings of women. The paintings, which bring forward acrylic on canvas, showcase the work of artists Momin Khan and Shaista Momin.

Shaista paints women in distress with their gloomy faces giving an aura of the sadness locked inside their hearts.

"I first drew when I was hardly 13 years old and professionally, I started off at 18. I vividly remember the first drawing that I did was of a woman's face. It inspired me," she said.



"The greatest thing you can see in a woman, from what I have experienced seeing my mother, is that she makes sacrifices with utmost dedication. The hallmark of a woman's life is that of struggle," said Shaista, explaining why her work focused on expressions of sadness.

Artist Shaista Momin's paintings focus on women's expressions of sadness. PHOTO: Courtesy Artciti Gallery

The struggle of women remains constant, said Shaista, adding that history has failed to acknowledge their [women's] plight and sufferings.

A self-taught painter, Shaista was inspired by poet Amrita Pritam, columnist Zahida Hina and writer Ismat Chughtai.



"[A woman's] sadness doesn't go, even if she is decked in jewels! The jewels are those profound chains that do not allow her to move ahead," Shaista said.

Meanwhile, Shaista's husband, Momin, has been painting for the past 42 years with the subject line being horses. "This is a commercially viable hobby of mine," Momin said.

Momin learnt painting from classes at Arts Council. "I give into a strong colour palette, which is vibrant to the core," he said. "In Pakistan, I think only commercial art sells."



"Sootay, uthtaay hum tou khattay bhi art hi hain [Art is our full-time engagement]," Momin said, summing up the couple's marital relationship.

The show continues till tomorrow (April 19).