Colours of Punjab: Bringing out cultural heritage

Salim Ansari’s work on display till April 2.

ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of paintings by the artist Salim Ansari opened at Jharoka Art Gallery on Tuesday. The event commemorated Pakistan Day, celebrating the cultural heritage of the country and highlighting its indigenous aspects, be it monuments or people.

Titled ‘Colours of Punjab’ the collection comprises a total of 36 watercolour paintings in a glorious tribute to the architecture and street life of Lahore as well as some of its outskirts.

Ansari’s paintings reflect a love for his native land in vivid detail. According to the artist, his mood dictates the atmosphere found in his art pieces. The settings vary with a transient palatte, blending in natural hues in a variety of tones.

Naheeda Raza, the gallery curator, complimented the intricate detailing and skilled treatment of the difficult medium in the artworks. “You notice minute subtleties that make up the larger picture. Instead of delving into selective imagery of a place, Ansari paints the scene as it is in its true form and feeling.”

“My paintings are not just a record of facades, but of time, where buildings and activities assume an aura of their own and become symbolic of culture and life,” the artist said of his work.

Narrow winding lanes, rundown balconies, quaint and dusty marketplaces, as well as some vestiges of Mughal grandeur all evoke nostalgia for a way of life that has vanished with the passage of time.

Everyday people like fruit vendors, sanitary workers and casual trespassers come alive, adding a distinct character and a buzz to the paintings. Then there are rickshaws, horse carriages and mini-vans -- elements characteristic to the lively aura of the walled city.

Towering historic structures such as Badshahi Mosque, Nolakha Fort and Lahore Fort cast a hazy glow, blending into the many moods of the sky in the background. The paintings depict a command over drawing, with the watercolours filling in lucid, fluid compositions and changing effects of light.

Azhar Hafeez, renowned photographer and artist, commended Ansari’s work for capturing a realistic yet artful image of the various places in the paintings.

Ansari is a graduate of the National College of the Arts in Lahore. He has exhibited his paintings in solo and group exhibitions both abroad and at home.

The current exhibition will continue till April 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2015.