Work of a skilled draftsman: Paintings exhibition by Mahmood Hayat opens

Twenty-five portraits will be displayed until May 15.

LAHORE:

A solo exhibition of paintings by Mahmood Hayat titled Using Beauty as a Remedy for Life opened at Zahoorul Ikhlaq Gallery of the National College of Arts (NCA) on Thursday.

The exhibition, inaugurated by Mustansar Hussain Tarar, will continue until May 15.

The display includes 25 portraits made using charcoal on paper, graphite on paper, water colours on paper and oil on canvas.

Speaking to The Express Tribune Hayat, said, “My family saw me drawing cartoons on walls and doors. They decided to introduce me to painting techniques at my father’s furniture workshop.”

Hayat said this had helped mature his talent early.

“As time passed, I learned more valuable and potentially rewarding skills which allowed me to see things differently. I love creating art works – both commissioned portraits and stylised works of art.”

Artist Asad Ali Naqvi said, “Hayat is a skilled draftsman. Most of his work consists on stylised portraits.”

Naqvi said Hayat followed his teacher Saeed Akhtar’s techniques.

“Imitation of the master is an important phase in an artist’s early years. I am looking forward to more of his exhibitions as his concepts and imagery evolve.”

Hayat, an NCA graduate, is a lecturer of furniture design at the Pakistan institute of Fashion and Design.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2014.