National Art Gallery: Pakistani, Chinese artists’ work on display

Collection captures lifestyles, landscape of two countries

ISLAMABAD: Taking a field trip through Pakistan and China, five Pakistani and 11 Chinese artists captured their cultural experiences through a collection of unique styles and strokes alluring art enthusiast that came to the opening at the National Art Gallery, here on Tuesday evening.

The gallery was masked with pieces that depict lifestyle and landscape the two countries. The collection comprise of impressions of artists who visited Pakistan and China through a cultural exchange that showcased their experience through their strokes. A group of Pakistani artists went to China in 2013 and a group of Chinese artists visited Pakistan in 2014 — travelling to Islamabad, Lahore, Murree and Muzaffarabad.

The collection consisted of work of traditional Chinese calligraphy by Zeng Zhen Gguo. The work was chic and clean, giving a serene feel.

Pakistani artist Akram Dost Muhammad displayed a collection of mixed medium on canvas, making a series using colorful hues on strong-faced figurines, while evolving into darker tones and deeper shades with mixed medium on canvas.

With the use of strong facial expressions, Muhammad creates “Chinese Girl” and “Baluch Face”, which magnifies intensity. He then goes on to create texture, which is landscape portrait that is enthralling.

Mobeen Ansari beautifully captures and glorifies emotions through a series of photographic portraits of Pakistani people in Sindh, northern Pakistan and China.

Artist Masood Khan’s collection comprises of moments elaborating lifestyle of people in China. While he sketches a girl in china, Khan also depicts a traditional Chinese village scenario in a perfectly encapsulating manner.

Aqeel Ahmed Solangi creates abstract using colours such as navy blue contrasting with pink and yellow giving it a true Chinese feel of warmth and anticipation. His work, acrylic and coloured pencil on canvas, is clean and absorbing.

Zaira Ahmed Zaka makes clean abstract with acrylic on canvas. Her series of abstract is made with strong hues and clean strokes.

Chinese artists Dai Kui and Liv Yu make Pakistani landscape using Chinese traditional techniques giving it an exciting amalgam of Pakistani scenery with Chinese art.

Speaking on the occasion, Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Secretary Mohammad Azam said that the exhibition reflected the strength of Pakistan-China friendship.

He said that next month a cultural troupe was expected to visit Pakistan.

Zhang YingBao, Chinese cultural counsellor said that the trip was an initiative of a collaboration between both Chinese and Pakistani governments.

He said that the mission in Islamabad was looking into more initiatives such as cooking and martial art classes.

All displayed art work will be sent back to the Ministry of Culture in China. The exhibition is ongoing till the 27th of January.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2015.