Eclectic exhibit: PUCAD grads put together group exhibition decades later

Exhibition will continue till November 20

LAHORE: Influx—a group show featuring the work of 18 recent Punjab University College of Art and Design graduates—commenced on Friday at Shakir Ali Museum.

Fatima Saulat, who exhibited two oil-on-canvas paintings, said her thesis was premised on dolls. Saulat said she had a collection of over 50 dolls. “I have incorporated them in my work along with my relatives,” Saulat said.  She said they were akin to one’s silent partners and some dolls had characteristics similar to those of her relatives. “I have a relationship with them (the dolls). I enjoy the fact that I get transported to a mysterious and fantastical world when I am with them,” Saulat said.

Kiran Mehvish, who showcased two oil-on-canvas paintings, said she had painted her thoughts in her work. “There are some situations wherein a person loses themselves in their thoughts. This happens quite frequently with me,” she said. Mehvish said she had attempted to depict the feelings and thoughts she could not express before anyone by painting portraits of herself.

Anuam Iftikhar, who displayed two oil-on-canvas paintings, said she had no idea regarding how she would be able to justice to her thesis when she started working on it as other things kept on popping up.

“The enduring realisation of time passing by kept on troubling me,” she said. Iftikhar said this had compelled her to premise her thesis on the thought. She said one of her pieces depicted the agony she had endured vis-à-vis the thought. Iftikhar said her other piece was premised on paranormal incidents that transpire in one’s home. “Sometimes my family and I thought that someone had done black magic on us and our residence. I came up with a painting on this as we were influenced by it,” she said.

Nada Khalid, who displayed two oil-on-canvas paintings, said she had worked on following light. “Every light has a feel peculiar to it irrespective of its colour,” she said. Khalid said she had played with the concept and attempted to explain that a blue light had a rather gloomy impact and so on. “I chose a colour palette that fosters a soothing environment. Some of my work betrays a feeling of silence. I worked with oil paints as they give my paintings a rather ornate look,” Khalid said.

Saleena Shahid, who showcased three acrylic-on-canvas paintings and a video installation, said her paintings were premised on nostalgia. “I have attempted to portray the feeling one has when they experience a flashback. It is these bittersweet longings and special feelings that I have attempted to capture, Shahid said. She said her installation was based on realisation wherein she had worked with flowers.

Saif Ali Siddiqui, who curated the exhibit with his sister Hira Siddiqui, said the facts that the exhibit had come together and the turn out had been encouraging was nothing short of a miracle. “It was extremely difficult to execute but our teachers really helped us. The last time our predecessors did something like this was two decades ago…I am glad we followed suit,” he said.

The exhibition will conclude on November 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2015.