Unveiling reality: Humanity lost amid societal pretence

Thai and Pakistani artists bring their work to Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD:

Reality is not always understood instantly, often only the guise it hides behind is visible to the naked eye. The brutality in our surroundings around usually goes unnoticed and unspoken. Syed Faraz Ali, Panuwat Sitheechoke and Kriangkrai Kongkhanun aim to highlight this through their work at the Khaas Art Gallery.

Putting such veiled concepts on a canvas can be controversial sometimes, but the three artists, unperturbed by criticism, have tried to unveil the humanity lost in the sands of time in pretentious society.

The artists have also tried to depict their struggle through their work. The project intends to present innovative work to the audience, something refreshing, that they can relate to yet is not a part of them.

Ali, a young painter based in Karachi and a graduate of Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture 2005, debuted with printmaking and has brought together the works of two Thai artists who are exhibiting with him.

The exhibition showcases 12 pieces by the artists. Kriangkrai Kongkhanun’s graphic art depicts a mixture of personal sentiments intertwined with the societal truth and human behaviour.

The second artist from Thailand Panuwat Sitheechoke executes his images on large woodcut prints, depicting an in-depth relation of religion and society. Sitheechoke’s work is greatly inspired by Theravada Buddhism, while Syed Faraz Ali’s work illustrates the perpetual craving for bringing forth the truth from the society that we live in. He has tried to explore the art of living of our time.

The exhibition had its first showing in Karachi and has now come to Islamabad and will continue till December 12.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2011.