5 young artists’ take on society

Exhibition Lakh War Sadkay questions the way things are in the society by making fun of the reigning ‘insanity’.

LAHORE: Lakh War Sadkay, the exhibition currently going on the Alhamra Art Gallery questions the way things are in the society by making fun of the reigning ‘insanity’.

The exhibition features the work of five artists: Mohsin Shafi, Amra Khan, Ahsan Masood, Mizna Zulfiqar and Sara Ahmed, all graduates of the National College of Arts. They told The Express Tribune that they feel they have a responsibility to bring about a social change through art. When asked whether it’s okay for an artist to play the role of an activist, Mohsin Shafi responded by saying, “Artists should play their role to improve things.”

Mohsin Shafi is the main person behind the idea of Lakh War Sadkay. He has used television frames to outline the text that expresses people’s sense of frustration while watching television.” He said, “My work is about instant communication that has made everybody more isolated than ever before. I want to look at these aspects using the recent surge in social networking, cable channels, the growth in terrorism and the rise in commercialism. What effect do they have on how we live today? How much information is too much information? Are we losing sight of what is real and what is not? My work is not against media. I’ve used media as my medium of expression. ”

Sara Ahmed said about her work, “It is a critique on what the society perceives to be ‘normal’ and its definition of ‘abnormal’. To fit in the society one has to be flawless physically and visually.” She said that she had photographed herself as a bride to highlight how women are scrutinised in the society.

Amra Khan’s art works include a colourful Minar-e-Pakistan that draws attention to the hypocrisy as well as the ‘wanna-bes’ in the society.

Ahsan Masood, who teaches at the NCA, has exhibited paintings of dolls that he made over a period of two years. He said, “I worked on the idea for two years. I bought secondhand clothes from Landa Bazaar and made a collage. I aim to highlight sexuality detached from the cultural, religious and social context.”

Art pieces created by Mizna Zulfiqar feature a repetition of self portraits on square boxes.  “My work is based on how I feel these days,” she said, adding, “I’m a mother, a student and a working woman. These roles have divided my individuality into multiple independent compartments.” The exhibition will continue till October 13.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2010.