Summer calligraphy: Tinging modern art forms with a unique blend of religious and cultural values

Four eclectic artists bring their work to Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD: Four eclectic artists have brought their works to Islamabad. A calligraphic exhibition to commemorate Ramazan opened here at the Nomad Art Gallery on Saturday.

Curator Nageen Hayat said, “As Ramazan kicks in full swing we wanted to put up a show commemorating the holiness of the month.”

The group show features works by Saima Ashfaq, Riffat Khattak, Sadia Liaqat, M A Bukhari and Taj Mohammad. While Taj, from the flood-affected region of Swat, carves wood and lives in Mardan with his family; he is using his skill to support his family.

The entire show is very religious and ethnic with only Bukhari’s work standing out as qualifying for decorative art. His use of vibrant colours and texture sensibility sets his work apart.

Bukhari uses layers upon layers of oil paint to texture his work. He describes beauty by his painting technique and expertly blends modern art with cultural and religious values in forms never seen before.

At first glance it seems as if the artist has been influenced by A Q Arif. The grid-like structure of his work with immaculate brush work draws the eyes of the viewer to his work, signifying the artists’ creative and aesthetic sensibilities.

His work is eye-catching by the sheer drama that he breathes into the landscapes with shocking tinges of dark colours and the lighting up portions of the canvas; it is bewildering because the overall effect leaves the viewer marvelling at the beauty of the creation.

The show will continue till August 31.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2011.