‘Beauty Alt Atrocity’ launched at PNCA

Federal minister Mahmood praises artist’s profound paintings


Zulfiqar Baig November 23, 2021
Ayisha Arshad Shahnawaz explains the intricacies of her artwork to visitors at her painting exhibition at PNCA. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for National History and Literary Heritage Shafqat Mahmood inaugurate an exhibition titled ‘Beauty Alt Atrocity’, a solo show by Ayisha Arshad Shahnawaz at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA).

The show features a collection of intricately crafted paintings, depicting the innumerable sufferings and miseries caused in the process of creating something fantastical and worthy and the sacrifice every individual makes to achieve the desired on a very personal level as well as societal level.

Ayisha, a Canadian-Pakistani artist born in Lahore in 1975, is a graduate of the prestigious National College of Art and her work has been exhibited in six countries spanning three continents.

The minister showered words of praise for the exhibition and the artist, saying, “Ayisha’s hard work has made this show beautiful and I am glad that after COVID-19, fun and healthy activities are being organised again.” He added the PNCA will be planning and executing many more similar activities.

Ayisha has presented her works as part of an EU art-exchange program with Canada and her paintings were also shown in the ‘Vialful’ exhibit. She was one of ten overseas Canadians selected by the Contemporary Art Galleries Association to showcase their work during the Millennium Fair in Montreal and was among a handful of artists from around the globe invited by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs to exhibit their work.

A PNCA release said that the council works dedicatedly for the promotion of Pakistani art on the local and national scale.

“Our elevated and unique programmes that present the traditional and contemporary art practices are a reflection of the excellence and cultural diversity of Pakistan,” it read, adding that the council supports professional development of the artist.

“The PNCA is committed to promoting significant aspects of the country and encourages community participation in gallery activities, fostering curatorial practice to the artist’s own understanding of their work and encourages a healthy and sustainable local arts industry,” read the release.

It went on to say that PNCA has maintained a range of regionally focused visual arts exhibitions, featuring both nationally and internationally recognised artists.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2021.

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