Distress, depression and discomposure dominate Riaz Rafi's new work. Expressive abstract forms in his paintings have hopelessness and fear as the most prominent aspect of our daily lives. The abstract figures of men and mostly women touch the basic problems and situations of people around him. But hope is still present like a ray of light coming through a window tries to brighten the dark room.
The same way a ray of hope tries to brighten the dark shadows of dismay. His current artworks express compositions in a new way. He focuses on the power of each individual be it man or woman. He enhances his non-representational paintings by simple shapes and lines. The vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines along with various shapes create movement and visual effect in his paintings.
He creates forms using solid colours, including yellow, blue, red, brown, green, grey, white and black. In some of his paintings he uses colour and line rather than shapes to clearly define his abstract elements. Mostly he combines shapes and colours to achieve balance.
He wraps beautifully the issues and forms and a relationship is made between the observed world and a created image. The colours and shapes overlap in a very free way to form subjective paintings. He merges geometrical forms and figures together thus transforming them together in a painting.
The ambience of our society starts to haunt us - bleeding and screaming. Ignorance from the powerful and the notables has created such situation. The changes in our society and the world around affect Riaz also and being an artist he is more sensitive towards these situations. Each painting tells a different story. Thus in a way Riaz talks about every small and big issue that touches the lives of common people.
He discusses various prevailing elements of our social network where hopelessness and fear is a common feeling among citizens. The general view of people is pessimistic towards society as a whole. While talking and in practical life people say and face hardships in every affair of life. People want to see life from a different aspect but the environment does not let them do so.
Riaz portrays people in our society who seems to be eager but also anxious and confused at the same time. The exposure of people to many different influences results in neglecting progressive aspects. He tries to recognise the faults in our social system which is leading us to such a grave situation that dismay becomes a norm of our society.
Dishearten and discourage human forms seems to vent their anger on his canvas some time alone and other time in group. The use of loud and bold colours is also an indication of frustration and disappointment. People want a new world without prejudice and oppression as exploitation and harassment has become a daily norm for both women and men. You can witness these artworks by Riaz Rafi today at Citi Art Gallery, Karachi.
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