Where many consider a woman’s beauty to exude either from the hands, the womb or the legs, Shammi Ahmed expresses beauty through their eyes and the lips. “We have all our expressions in our eyes and that is why I have emphasised on them,” said Ahmed.
“I have infused flowers in all my pieces because along with the eyes and the lips, flowers are a symbol of beauty,” she added. The artist who takes her inspiration from trained under Jamil Naksh and though a late bloomer, is starting to make a significant mark on the art scene in Pakistan.
After working for two years on 30 pieces for this collection, Shammi said she felt ready for a solo show in Islamabad. Using oil paints, the artist has drawn wide-eyed faces with a technique that leaves a deep impact on the viewers. The composition is balanced: the lines are smooth, colour coordination is in harmony and the resulting images are sharp and effective. This seems to be the reason why her work fares so well within the circle of art collectors.
Asim Khawaja, an antique dealer and avid art collector said, “With 75 per cent of the collection already sold out, it seems as if Noshi Kadir of Tanzara is catering to what Islamabad’s art collectors and enthusiasts really want.”
The compositions are so compelling that, “I stood transfixed. This alone speaks for the excellence of her work,” he said.
“I almost never buy work of artists that are still alive. However, she is the second living artist whose work I am buying,” said Khawaja. As an onlooker it was a great sight to see so many art lovers gather under one roof, not only to support the artist but were compelled to actually buy the pieces.
Even though the faces have a Mediterranean feel to them, much like what Michelangelo painted, but the paintings are not race specific and that remains one of the main reasons why most people can relate to them, he added.
Talking to The Express Tribune, the owner of Tanzara gallery, Noshi Kadir, said, “I am very selective about whom I exhibit and I have surveyed the market so I know what people want.”
This particular collection attracted me because Shammi’s wide-eyed women have “an enigmatic gaze and are delicately rendered in soft, layered translucent shades that illuminate the features”.
Being a gallery owner is one of the toughest professions because the art market fluctuates more frequently than the stock market and as a result, makes it harder for galleries to remain functional, she added.
Naveen Mahmood a local housewife said, “The show will be very successful because it’s exquisite.”
“I loved a few pieces but they were all sold out, I guess I should have come earlier,” she added disappointedly.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2010.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ