Exhibition: Paintings that portray a woman’s soul

‘Random Musing: A Woman’s Journey’ opens at Nomad gallery.

ISLAMABAD:

Two artists, employing water colours, have attempted to capture a woman’s soul, as they best understand it. The exhibition “Random Musing: A Woman’s Journey” opened to public on Tuesday at Nomad Art Gallery.

For Samreen Asif, the first artist, it is all about exploring ways that could lead her to the knowledge, pursuit and preservation of traditional miniature art. Her work journeys through her ceaseless struggle as an artist; her struggle translates into her work.

Asif said, “My subject matter presents my grandeur of thought; depicting women with eternal hope of freedom and liberty replete with dramatic colours and romantic atmosphere.” Using water colour, she portrays elated feelings of love and care, which women need to strengthen and empower their spirits.

For her collection, Salma Manzoor has used recycles paper adorned with water colours. She, too, uses the female figure to depict her emotions.

Her current collection at the gallery began in 2006 and has had a number of frequent feminine elements.

She draws female figures in portrait, divisions of space, bubbles with softness of daises, pearls painted in sea green and butterflies that exude the delicacy of life.

“The soft and very ambitious character of women is totally destroyed in the very dilemma of eastern society I belong to,” said Manzoor, explaining, “for the developmental stages of women are based upon typical gender-biased values, which only develop incubators, nurturing only the submissive, repressive and shatter souls.”

The show will continue till September 30.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2011.