Art exhibition: Political commentary captured on canvas

Artist relies on the colour red to depict violence and chaos.


Our Correspondent April 14, 2013
Titled Unity, Faith and Discipline, the painting is a satire on the country’s political landscape. PHOTO: PRESS RELEASE

ISLAMABAD:


A charred emblem of the Pakistan government shines cruelly over a surface that seems to be soaked in blood. The blood has congealed and dried up in places. Around the lettering on the official crest, which announces the famous “Faith, Unity, Discipline” motto of the country’s founder, the white silhouettes of two roosters appear to be preparing for another fight.


This painting titled “Siyasi Adakar” or Political Actor is one in a series of artist Abid Hasan’s commentary on the current socio-political situation. His solo exhibition, “Buzzing Bellows” opened at  Gallery 6 on Saturday.

Hasan relies on the colour red in most of his paintings to depict violence and chaos in society. The glistening images — a giant moon above a crimson sea, a crown dangling on an scarlet mass — are arresting, even haunting.

“There is sadness, frustration, outrage and unease in these uncertain times when politicians, institutions and even the media are complicit in hiding the truth,” Hasan said, in a written statement. “I’m painting a world in chaos.” Rawalpindi-born Hasan is a visiting faculty member at the Karachi School of Arts, from where he graduated in 1996.

His work involves experimenting with the effects of oxidising chemicals on silver leaf, a thin metal foil. For some of his pieces, Hasan creates interesting textures by covering the surface of a canvas with the silver leaves and allowing them to react with the chemicals before applying paint.

In “A Diplomatic Tangle,” a reclining human ribcage, drowned in red, connects to a ghost face which appears to be surrounded by flames. The knots, references to fire and the human decay in this image provide a sharp critique of the complicated nature of international diplomacy which is often suspected of creating the conflicts and chaos it is supposed to prevent.

The shining quality of the paintings is not unintended. According to the artist, his paintings are meant to be aesthetically attractive despite the depressing issues they address. “Abid paints with bright vibrant colours that feed the soul, knowing that we need these colours,” said Arjumand Faisel, the gallery’s curator.

But in some paintings such as the “The Final Partition,” the presentation and the colours appear soothing rather than evoking the unrest they are supposed to depict. The exhibition will continue till April 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2013. 

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