Artists portray women’s inner struggles, feelings on canvas

Artists share similar concerns related to human figure and try to present a social commentary through their work.

LAHORE: As many as 12 artworks of six young artists are currently being displayed at O Art Space Gallery.

According to curator Irfan Gul, the aim of the exhibition is to present the talent of young and high potential contemporary artists who have just started their professional journey in the eyes of the world. Irfan said the artists selected for this exhibition share similar concerns related to human figure and have tried to present a social commentary through their work.



“These artists need to be nurtured, supported and exposed to the opportunities which can bring a major difference in their lives and ultimately in shaping the creative and tolerant face of Pakistan,” Irfan said.



Amna Rahman’s work explores the sensitivity of artists relation to the women she has been throughout her life. According to her, the female figures in her paintings are rendered of an earthly colour palette to achieve the vivid browns of our Asian skin while her subjects wear a mask of fearlessness; their gaze is overtly defiant, their eyes are dark and their lips dry.

“The inspiration is from the conditions that we have grown up in Pakistan where women enjoy considerable comfort with other women,” she remarked.

Sana Saeed’s work revolves around the concept of marks and traces left behind by mundane human activity. According to her, she considers dust particles on different objects, stains on clothes and marks on walls, doors as collectors of time.

“For me, to live is to leave traces and my artistic practice revolves around these traces. These could be a physical mark on any surface or a non-tangible mark floating in the memory,” she explained.



Saddam Murad’s work explores the concept of living in patriarchal culture where the male members have always suppressed the females. Explaining his technique and work style, Saddam says that he has made compositions that are predominated by the male figures with female figures somewhere in there but not given as much importance using oil paints on rough canvases.



Emaan Khan’s work is a portrayal of woman without the typical feminine features that are considered essential for a woman in a society where they are seen as things on display, ornaments pruned to perfection



“I paint my women stripped down, ghostly, confronting, fragile and yet baring a sense of confidence,” Emaan explains.

“Through my paintings, I aim to portray the inner struggles that you or I might face on a daily basis. Struggles that we want to hide from the world for whatever reason, demons that we keep safely tucked away,” she adds.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2017.