Exhibition: Artists paint history, culture, modern life

Abrar Ahmed, NH Kazmi, Masood Khan’s works on display at Nomad

ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of paintings portraying a wide range of subjects, from Gandhara images to Mughal emperors and from working women of Hunza Valley to complexities of modern life, opened at the Nomad Art Gallery on Saturday.

High Commissioner of Canada Heather Cruden inaugurated the exhibition, which featured artworks by by Abrar Ahmed, NH Kazmi and Masood A Khan.

Though displaying unique styles in their distinctive works, the three artists focus on showcasing the cultural aspects of Pakistan.

Abrar Ahmed uses oil on canvas, ink on paper and a cubist style to capture the irony of modern life where wealth and happiness sometimes have a negative correlation. Abrar’s work carries a stirring reflection of Gandhara images, picture of Indian miniature paintings and Bengal art. He hails from Karachi, and has exhibited in Pakistan, as well as the Middle East and the US.

NH Kazmi uses opaque water colours to create traditional and contemporary miniature pieces. His works feature Mughal-era emperors and working women form Hunza Valley, capturing their agony from hard labour.

Owing to the detail incorporated in his work, Kazmi says it can take up to six months to create a single piece, and six years to create the body of work for an exhibition. The artist uses embossing style to create a three-dimensional effect to his work, as well as incorporating real gold.

He makes his own colours by mixing chemicals and oils together. Kazmi is also the recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence). His work has been showcased in Turkey, Iraq and Algiers.

Masood A Khan uses water colours on paper to create transparency in his paintings, often painting rural village settings. This exhibition is continuation of his 18 previous appearances at various art galleries in Pakistan and abroad.

Nageen Hayat, curator and director of the gallery, said of Khan’s work: “As transparency is the quintessence of naked reality, it remains constant on his surfaces. In the remote recesses of his subconscious lies an effort to create a spiritual climate that touches the heart. He has externalised his outrage at hypocrisy, which cloaks and disguises our true intentions”.

Khan won first place and the European Confederation of Art Critics Award for works on paper at the second Biennale of Chianciano in Italy, 2011.

The exhibition will continue till September 1.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2015.