The weather takes a turn and it is warmer now but still very pleasant in the early mornings and evenings. Life is so fast that it feels that one is sitting on a Roller Coaster. There was an exhibition of paintings at the Nomad Gallery by eminent artists from Bangladesh - Tajuddin Ahmed, Iftikharudin Ahmed and Mustaque Ahmed. Mr Shamim Ahmed, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh was the chief guest on the occasion. Iftikharuddin Ahmed was a scholar of French government for Higher Study on the Modern Painting at Academy de la Grande Chaumiere and was the nominated painter of Cite International Des Arts, Paris 1986.
He did his masters in fine arts from the Institute of Fine Arts, University Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has had 12 solo exhibitions and has altogether participated in 72 group exhibitions in Bangladesh, Australia, China, France, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, South Africa and USA. He has been awarded a number of prizes including the prestigious honourable award, 9th Asian Art Biennial. His work adorns the museums and art galleries all over the world.
Mustaque Ahmed did his residency from Vermont Studio Centre (Painting), Johnson, Vermont, and USA. He has participated in a number of group shows all over the world.
Tajuddin Ahmed did his bachelors in Fine Arts from the institute of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1980.He has held six solo exhibitions and has participated in a number of group exhibitions in his country and abroad. He was awarded Honourable Mention Award from Saju Art Gallery, Gulshan, Dhaka in 2000. Currently he works as a freelance artist and is the President of Tivoli Art Gallery, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
It was like a breath of fresh air from Bangladesh. Nomad gallery was indeed looking beautiful with the display of such lovely paintings.
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Another painting exhibition was held at the Alliance Francaise D' Islamabad by Fauzia Minallah. In her statement she said, "My artistic journey has been very unconventional and very slow. At a very early age my parents recognised the artist in me, but it was much later in life that I actually enjoyed and cherished the joy of being an artist. I trained at the Pratt Institute, New York, USA as a communication designer, but have been painting since the age of 12, when I was a student of S.S.Hyder, an eminent artist of Peshawar. Living in Sadeqain's neighbourhood gave me valuable, enriching moments of observing a master at work. My greatest inspiration comes from a craft from my parents' village, called 'chitarkari' or slate engraving and the ancient Ghandhara Art. Watching slate engravers chiselling intricate design on slate brought this urge to pick up a hammer and chisel and do it myself. Call it art or craft, whatever I have put on display are my thoughts, feelings and anxieties engraved on slate and board. I love making my own paper, something I learnt from Tajima Shinji, a dear friend from Japan, who promoted handmade paper in Pakistan. In my artistic journey, it will be Kishwar Naheed to whom I will be indebted forever for the help and kindness I have received from her."
"My recent work is a window to the world around me, where words have lost their meanings. What do words like freedom, liberty, justice and peace mean and what are the lessons my children going to learn? This is the question that plagues me most of the time. My paintings depict a world where just a few have become so big and powerful that they control the lives and destinies of millions. A world where many have to run away from their homes, and leave behind everything they loved and cherished."
"Different symbols are depicted in my paintings. Snakes are used as motifs symbolising the myriad of lies and deceptions we live with. These snakes slither around, decorating my paintings, just as they slither around us, inside us and we don't find them sinister, in fact they are quite accepted. I only use the lines and form of snakes instead of revealing the whole. Symbol of 'Roots' for me signify limited freedom while 'dance' symbolises ultimate freedom. 'Eyes' for me are the most important feature, while the artificial, plastic smiles might conceal but it is the eyes that reveal. Children are my greatest inspiration. What is the value of a child's life? Why are children being robbed of their childhood's and their innocence? Where are we leading them? What are we teaching them? These are questions I frequently find asking myself. Despite everything life goes on the dance of life must continue."
The questions asked by the artist indeed gives one food for thought. It makes one realise that life is just not a merry-go-round and there is a serious side to it as well.