Exhibition: This too shall pass

Paintings show glimpses from lives of people.

LAHORE:

An exhibition of water colours by Ali Abbas, which began at Ejaz Art Gallery on Thursday, continues to attract scores of art lovers.

Paintings in the display titled The Colour of Optimism show lives in transition. There are people sheltering in temporary abodes and nomads moving according to seasons and circumstances.

Commenting on Abbas’s work, critic Marjorie Husain said that the common subjects made Abbas’s work uncommon.

“There is a touching simplicity in the delightful cameos he produces, often highlighted by carefully rendered areas of bright colouration,” she said. “These are works in which light catches gleams of colour on a worn costume creating excitement and optimism in the drab surrounding,” she continued. Jamshoro native Abbas said the medium he had chosen required great skill and was one of the hardest mediums to achieve movement and solidarity with.

Dr Rahat Masood too said, “The most striking aspect of the work is the medium. Ali has very skilfully rendered the subject: life in a certain region and certain culture.”

The fluidity and the comfort of the subjects show that the artist knows his people and is able to capture the essence of their existence. Throughout the collection, attention to detail is consistent. The focal point of the work, however, is always primary subject, frequently it is the environment and the surroundings.

Zarah David, the curator, said she ‘admired’ the artist’s skill in using water colours. “He shows an unusual understanding of human character. He makes obvious that he belongs to the people he has chosen to paint,” she said.“His subjects are graceful and the faces have been sensitively delineated. The faultlessly painted hands and feet are the test of a true artist and Abbas has certainly succeeded,” she went on.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2011.