Hope in art: Promoting peace through paintings

A solo exhibition of paintings titled Love, Peace, Harmony opened at Ejaz Art Gallery

LAHORE:

A solo exhibition of paintings, titled Love, Peace, Harmony, by Abid Khan opened at Ejaz Art Gallery on Wednesday.

A large number of art lovers, collectors and students visited the gallery displaying 35 paintings until November 1.

“Words like terrorism, bloodshed and prejudice rule our lives due to the extensive coverage violence gets in the media,” Khan told The Express Tribune.

Abid Khan’s work on display at Ejaz Art Gallery. PHOTOS: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS

“When you close your eyes, you find yourself close to Mother Nature. Peace, love and harmony are the true picture of life,” he said.

Khan said painting helped one come out of one’s shell of self-resistant to keep a dignified persona.

He said logic was not needed for an appreciation of art. “My paintings will be useless if they do not serve a man struggling with his life,” Khan said. He said nothing much was being done to educate people about art, particularly paintings. “My work is not only a depiction of landscapes but also meant to be a ray of hope for others.”

“The world is in the process of transition; things are getting new forms. But the nature continues to have the same spirit. I have benefitted from scenic landscapes to find peace and tranquillity.”

The artist said he had tried to assert the superiority of imagination over observation.

“This does not mean that my work lacks intricacy. For me, even the darkest shadows are composed of near imperceptible gradations of colour and light,” Khan said.

Born in 1966 in Lahore, Khan earned his master’s degree in English literature in 1993. He says he lacked the resources needed for a formal art education and has taught himself drawing and painting.

He held his first solo show of cityscapes in 1999.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2014.