Art exhibition: Artist portrays love for country on canvas

Nazia Ejaz’s paintings bring a cultural treat for the viewer.

ISLAMABAD:

Artist Nazia Ejaz has a lot going for her besides being the daughter of the late singer Noor Jehan. She has seamlessly managed to articulate creative expression into her latest collection currently on display at Tanzara Art Gallery.

A burst of vibrant colour is the first thing one notices upon entering the gallery. Showcased in large golden frames, all of her work depicts a love for the country. The paintings reflect her influences in various facets such as poetry, culture and music and mundane life.

One set of her paintings revolves around a woman with her back to the viewer, flowers and intricate patterns in the backdrop. Clad in a low-back sari for the most part, the subject manages to create an aura of mystique. Perhaps what makes Ejaz’s work stand out is the white background blended with bright hues.



The brush stokes are unconventional: instead of going with the paint brush, the artist has used a palette knife for her oil-on-canvas work. “Applying thick impasto with a knife has allowed me to create a gestural and tactile quality in my work,” said the artist.

The paintings largely display a series of colourful rickshaws and urban dwellings set in the backdrop of various landscapes. The urban dwellings maintain straight cut lines that not only manage to remain realistic but add a touch of abstract as well.



In the rickshaw series, the focal points almost always remain the automobiles. Perhaps this straightforward simplicity is what makes her work refreshing. Her sweeping strokes find a natural beginning and end, therefore giving a feel of constant flow on the canvas. However one does wish that with all her very apparent talent Ejaz manages to work along more out-of-the box themes in the future.  The exhibition continues till February 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2013.