Art exhibition: Portraying the common man’s struggle

‘Dawn of Hope’ marks Jabbar’s debut solo show in capital, where he’s exhibited 21 paintings.

ISLAMABAD: An art exhibition showcasing paintings by contemporary artist Abdul Jabbar opens at Jharoka Art Gallery on Tuesday (today).

“Dawn of Hope” marks Jabbar’s debut solo show in the capital, in which he has exhibited a total of 21 paintings.

“I’ve portrayed the peace and tranquility as found in our villages which, unfortunately, our cities are devoid of,” he said. “I wish that someday the same peace comes to our cities in these turbulent times.”



Jabbar has painted on both canvas and jute. “It is a  quite tedious process to paint on jute but the technique is a reflection of the simple life of a common man in the countryside,” he said, adding that the deep red paint in his artworks represents blood and how a peasant relentlessly works from day to night, putting in his blood and sweat into extensive labour.

There is a certain tenderness and fluidity to the artwork. From tall cityscapes at the forefront of hazy skylines offset by contrasts of deep red or rhythmic white and sky blue, the paintings exude a love for the familiar, a sense of belonging and a reason to return home.



White pigeons represent the calm one experiences in the rural areas while peacock-coloured birds, perched on top of an earthen bowl, show romanticism and symbolism in the artworks. The imagery of birds represents tranquility and serenity and a love for nature.

Naheeda Raza, the gallery curator, said Jabbar was showcasing his creativity by experimenting with different materials to paint on.

“The use of thick layers of oil paint creates a three-dimensional effect in the painting.

The reflections of buildings in water the bright colours of him paintings make him stand out among other contemporary artists of the country,” she added.

Jabbar has been painting for the last two decades. Following a stint at painting cinema posters in Rawalpindi, he went on to pursue teaching art classes in schools and colleges in Karachi.

The current exhibition will continue till January 31 at House 8, Street 28, Sector F-8/1.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2015.