Exhibition: Art with a punc - using dark humour to depict political and social situations

‘Three in A Crowd’ opens at Khaas Art Gallery.

ISLAMABAD:

Three artists exhibiting here have invoked sarcasm and dark humour in their work to depict the country’s social and political situation.

The collection “Three in A Crowd”, featuring the works of National College of Arts graduates Atif Khan, Sophia Khwaja and Zaira Ahmed opened at Khaas Art Gallery on Wednesday.

Khan uses digital prints to create his pieces while Ahmed works using the photo etching process. Sophia uses the dry point tool method, giving a snapshot “journalistic” feel to her prints.

All three artists use humour to project the underlying themes of their work which runs the risk of not every viewer either understanding the concept or appreciating the subtlety.

Khwaja’s work depicts moments in time, from the rate of inflation and the frustration towards it, to the flippant attitude of the nation’s leaders. “Nobody [seems to] take the country seriously; my work captures each issue the way I feel about it,” she said.

Ahmed’s collection -- “Brick by Brick” -- shows a series of abandoned buildings. The buildings are actual dwellings that can be seen around Islamabad, Murree and adjacent areas. “I’ve shown the process of the construction as well as destruction,” she said, adding that though they are in a dilapidated state she wants to bring back the feeling of love their makers channelled during their construction.

Khan’s pieces are unique and provocatively worked out prominently depicting a Mughal emperor in different places. Placement and precision are important in his work -- in one piece, the emperor stands on a column firing a gun; in others he stands amidst a forest. His art gives new meaning to the concept of “old and new”; the old emperor always depicted in black and his surrounding are new and colourful.

The paintings are priced between Rs22,000 to Rs48,000. The exhibition will continue to run till October 29.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2011.