Marking women’s day: Artists ‘Rediscover Female Narratives’

Exhibition showcases work of over 100 artists.

ISLAMABAD: A collective showcase of multi-disciplinary artists was organised to commemorate International Women’s Day at the National Art Gallery on Tuesday.

Titled “Rediscovering Female Narratives”, the show featured a diversity of over a 100 artists from different age-groups from all over the country. The exhibition was curated by the gallery’s visual arts director Mussarat Nahid Imam and inaugurated by politician Marvi Memon.

The showcase paid homage to renowned artists such as Anna Molka Ahmed, Jamila Masud, Sughra Rababi, Laila Shehzada, Zubeida Agha and Naseem Hafiz Qazi.

At the centre of the main gallery, contemporary artist Natasha Jozi engaged visitors with her performance piece. Tearing pages out of Manto’s books, she blanked out lines with a black marker and then dipped the pages in green ink. Repeating the act for three hours, she silently highlighted censorship in the country. The performance was simultaneously thought-provoking and disturbing.

“It’s an honour to be a part of this show,” said painter Shireen Ikramullah, whose mixed media art pieces are included in the showcase. Depicting the artist’s penchant for the colour red, the artworks explore the underlying meaning of what one sees on the surface.

Inspired by nature, Ikramullah has juxtaposed various colours in the form of an explosion of sorts. Her artworks question preconceived notions of beauty and ugliness, prompting the audience to think out-of-the-box.

Sana Arjumand’s mixed media pieces delve into the depths of spirituality, love and white light from where all things take form. With an amalgamation of illustration, colour and medium, Arjumand presents the non-tangible as tangible pieces of art.



Landscape artist Asma Abbasi presented lush-green scenery that the casual observer may overlook. “I love the greenery and the moss,” said Abbasi, pointing to an oil painting that shows a bridge overlooking foliage in a bustling neighbourhood.

Komal Shahid illustrates the techniques of calligraphy and pyrography in her miniatures, combining traditional and contemporary art practices in one display. Her mother, Jamila Shahid, presented ceramic pieces in the collection.

Renowned actor and artist Jamal Shah complimented the pieces on display, but added that the presentation of the large number of art pieces could have been better.

Singer-songwriter Arieb Azhar commented that the show was a bit overwhelming for him because there was so much to take in. “It is a great initiative and I think there should be many more people over here,” he added.

The exhibition includes around 200 pieces and will continue till March 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2015.