A fresh page: Jaffer redefines women in pen-and-ink drawings
A total of 72 art pieces are on display.
A bright and inventive painting on display at the gallery. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
An exhibition of the recent works of renowned abstract artist Wahab Jaffer opened up at Tanzara Art Gallery on Friday. The exhibition comprises 36 acrylic-on-canvas paintings and an equal number of pen-and-ink drawings in a vibrant mix.
Celebrated as one of the country’s foremost modern masters, Jaffer is exhibiting at the gallery for the fourth time.
“Jaffer’s bold and adventurous style has a strong identity and his paintings exude a refreshing energy as he continues to simplify the female form and explore the richness of a full palette,” said Noshi Qadir, the gallery curator.
The paintings on display are bright, inventive and symbolic – he successfully captures the moods and attitudes of the women on his canvasses, said Qadir. His smooth lines, colour coordination and balanced compositions render the image in a sharp and effective manner, she further added.
The women in his art pieces take a life of their own. From their diversity of expressions to their detailed attire, they govern the canvasses with a powerful presence yet retaining an intrinsically-fragile essence.
Often adorned with stylised head gear, they seem crowned by birds that tend to be camouflaged in the bright contours or intricate, minimalistic fine lines owing to the medium they are represented in.
The birds create a sense of harmony with their upheld beaks, intertwined with the ornamented head-wraps and imbuing another dimension and depth to the artworks. Flowers housed in large vases bring out a creative experimentation of colour and form, which happens to a trademark of the artist.
“The art pieces are fun to look at and very cerebral. They remind me of pop art and I’m amazed to see that most of the show is already sold out,” said Lubna, a guest at the exhibition.
Sarah Adil, another guest, complimented the surreal designs in the paintings and the focus on the faces of the subjects. “The faces of the women in the paintings take one by wonder. The fullness of their facial features brings out their beauty. The women have a quaint universality about them,” she said.
Jaffer has exhibited extensively at home and abroad in solo and group shoes, notably at the Asia Pacific Museum in Pasadena in California, the National Art Gallery in Islamabad, the Art Gallery of Peel’s, juried exhibition in Brampton in Ontario as well as at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Jaffer said, “Painting is my passion. I paint every day. I am a colourist — colours and form are my forte”. The current exhibition will continue till March 28 from 11:30am to 4:30pm except Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2015.
An exhibition of the recent works of renowned abstract artist Wahab Jaffer opened up at Tanzara Art Gallery on Friday. The exhibition comprises 36 acrylic-on-canvas paintings and an equal number of pen-and-ink drawings in a vibrant mix.
Celebrated as one of the country’s foremost modern masters, Jaffer is exhibiting at the gallery for the fourth time.
“Jaffer’s bold and adventurous style has a strong identity and his paintings exude a refreshing energy as he continues to simplify the female form and explore the richness of a full palette,” said Noshi Qadir, the gallery curator.
The paintings on display are bright, inventive and symbolic – he successfully captures the moods and attitudes of the women on his canvasses, said Qadir. His smooth lines, colour coordination and balanced compositions render the image in a sharp and effective manner, she further added.
The women in his art pieces take a life of their own. From their diversity of expressions to their detailed attire, they govern the canvasses with a powerful presence yet retaining an intrinsically-fragile essence.
Often adorned with stylised head gear, they seem crowned by birds that tend to be camouflaged in the bright contours or intricate, minimalistic fine lines owing to the medium they are represented in.
The birds create a sense of harmony with their upheld beaks, intertwined with the ornamented head-wraps and imbuing another dimension and depth to the artworks. Flowers housed in large vases bring out a creative experimentation of colour and form, which happens to a trademark of the artist.
“The art pieces are fun to look at and very cerebral. They remind me of pop art and I’m amazed to see that most of the show is already sold out,” said Lubna, a guest at the exhibition.
Sarah Adil, another guest, complimented the surreal designs in the paintings and the focus on the faces of the subjects. “The faces of the women in the paintings take one by wonder. The fullness of their facial features brings out their beauty. The women have a quaint universality about them,” she said.
Jaffer has exhibited extensively at home and abroad in solo and group shoes, notably at the Asia Pacific Museum in Pasadena in California, the National Art Gallery in Islamabad, the Art Gallery of Peel’s, juried exhibition in Brampton in Ontario as well as at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Jaffer said, “Painting is my passion. I paint every day. I am a colourist — colours and form are my forte”. The current exhibition will continue till March 28 from 11:30am to 4:30pm except Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2015.