ART FACTS: Sensations and ideas

Sensations and ideas fused together in a group show titled "Signature II" at Studio Seven Gallery, Karachi. The finest artworks of 20 eminent artists from all over Pakistan delighted the viewers by providing almost every flavour of the painting genre art enthusiasts crave for from abstracts, figurative, non-figurative and landscape to calligraphy and sculptures.
Ahmed Khan painted the holy verses freely and creatively without strictly following the traditional styles but of course the calligraphic work was governed by the principles of balance and proportion, rhythm and unity. The luminous calligraphic works are signature of Ahmed Khan. The radiant holy words attracted viewers who felt spiritually lifted by viewing his work.
While going through Nahid Raza's painting one felt like lost in the trance of her artwork. The viewers were overwhelmed by the message of peace, love and reverence echoed in the artwork. Although she used different style, the acrylic on canvas artwork has a strong aesthetic appeal.
She used squares in her "untitled" painting symbolically for the Holy Ka'aba. She skilfully used the holy house shape to represent her feelings for Allah and connect herself with her creator.
The artwork appeared with various floral patterns in the background in black and white. The painting has a design highlighted by square shaped motifs and alphabet 'Alif' in black and white colour at the bottom of the painting.
Carving universal feelings and concepts, rather than objects, which go beyond representational images Amin Gulgee's sculptures, captured his feelings regarding his surrounding and his heritage.
He has been exploring the world through his sculptures for about two decades and communicated with people by means of his sculptures and installations. The mystic and spiritual tone of his artworks made him more near to his roots.
His artwork in copper titled "Algorithm IV" at the exhibition also followed the spiritual theme discovering the creator by searching our souls in different difficult situations when a person has to deal alone the problems in life.
Meticulous in detail Ather Jamal's painting has deep and realistic look as he balanced his composition with strong light effects and shadows. He painted ordinary things that are the basis of serious subjects of life. The painting at the exhibition reflects the same style. He painted the old quarters of the city in his painting titled "Old Karachi series (Empress Market)".
He painted a scene from everyday life. The impression of time by the use of sunlight and shadows was impressive. The intricate composition of cityscape was fabulous. One can visit the city of lights through his painting having wide roads and narrow lanes, tall building and markets. The hustle and bustle of city life was portrayed in elaborated detail. People busy in their daily life travelling in different public and private vehicles through wide and narrow streets of the city.
Ghalib Baqar's painting titled "Homage to Van Gogh" covered an idea, a concept and a subject of painter Van Gogh. He is inspired by the great artist and curious about various issues surrounding his artworks.
His pieces showed abstract ideas in different shapes, forms, figures and multiple lines, circles and squares. In some of his paintings strange forms emerged from the regular shapes and then disappear somewhere between other forms.
Farrukh Shahab's painting was composed of many ethnic as well as socio-economic and gender based issues. His painting discussed topic of general concern. His painting showed vocabulary of daily life with an aura of mystery. Diverse narratives were found in his painting in addition to mystery which created an intriguing environment.
Titled "Self-Portrait" the mild colours painting revealed an exciting experience of an unknown feeling. The refreshing and broad background of his painting gave the feeling of depth and wideness. He infused the feeling of inner enlightenment with soft hues of red, ochre and blue.
His painting explored his creativity, through simple subject with a unique point of view. His perspectives were very smoothly balanced by the texture of his painting.
The artworks at the exhibition not only show artist's skills, but their intuition, emotions, reacting and interacting with the pressures of life, their struggle, progress and advancements of the time they are living in and they have lived. The resulting works was the reflection of both past and present.
While going through each painting there was a feeling that they want to prove something to society wrapped in their creativity they presented certain visions of the world. This was the second exhibition at the gallery. The studio opened its door in mid of November this year, and it has a sister branch in Dubai.
"Mixed works by the artist community of Pakistan have been projected at the gallery. We also plan to have travelling shows in the very near future," said the gallery's director, Abdul Jabbar Gull.
The participating artists were: Ahmed Khan, Ali Azmat, Amin Gulgee, Farrukh Shahab, Ather Jamal, Ghalib Baqar, Ghulam Mustafa, Jamil Baloch, Munawar Ali Syed, Muhammad Zeeshan, Mussarat Mirza, Meher Afroz, Mughees Riaz, Nahid Raza, Noor Jehan Bilgrami, Roohi Ahmed, R.M Naeem, Riffat Alvi, Shahid Rassam and Waseem Ahmed.
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