KARACHI:
The works of art on display silenced onlookers with the depth and beauty of their narration, at a fundraiser art exhibition held recently by the Abbassciy Foundation, an upcoming school project.
From ceramics to oil on canvas, sketches and the use of mixed media — all were part of the exhibition at Grandeur. The pieces on display were vibrant and colourful, far from the gloomy and morbid ones that Pakistani artists are typically considered best at.
Neshmia Ahmed, the curator of Grandeur gallery, said: “The Abbassciy Foundation brought all the artists together, and I just gave them the use of my gallery for charity purposes. The exhibition did well, as people supported the cause.”
Yasmin Zaman, who made a debut with her charcoal sketches said: “This is work I did while I was away from the country. I was residing in New Zealand at that time. All the sketches are about 10 years old. Art requires a lot of continuity, and one needs to keep working to progress.”
Another artist, Mehrin Haseeb, said she had always been interested in art, even as a young child, but took it up seriously when she went to college. Her work included landscape and floral designs in water colours. For Haseeb, “Art is a means of escape, my landscapes are dreamy, as they take me somewhere else. I am an escapist.” Of the six pieces she displayed at the exhibition, two were sold instantly.
Cyra Ali, who exhibited one piece in canvas print called “For Bouquets”, said: “I was always inclined towards art and I see art in everything.”
Also included were Samia Roomi’s pen and ink sketches, Samar & Sadiqa’s (Butlam) painting of trees, Sehba Maruf Ali’s sketched figures on wood and beautiful calligraphy by Arshad Karim.
Sarah Ansari, an art critic and co-curator of the exhibition, said: “It was nice of everyone to come together for a good cause. Some artists donated their work and some even produced original work in a very short period of time.”
Ansari, who is a graduate of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture gave the exhibition a thumbs up, “The work was very colourful, I loved Eman Mahmood’s and Munawar Saeed’s work, good calligraphy by Arshad Karim and Sehba Maruf Ali’s work was entirely different.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2011.
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