An exhibition of contemporary miniature paintings titled 'Fallen', by Mudassar Manzoor at Gandhara - Art Gallery engages viewer through its synchronising dynamic compositions, colour tones and textures. His paintings combine realism and expressionism carrying the enigma of existence, both on the real and ideal levels. He highlights both the revealed and hidden social situation of common people.
He is a graduate in Fine Arts from National College of Arts, Lahore miniature department. Using traditional techniques and styles in a new innovative way Mudassar expresses both his philosophical and emotional concerns about the society.
His combination of traditional medium with new modern media captures the inner character and personality of people. He defines and discover the human psyche related to social behaviours symbolising in a form of a feminine figure in white and white clouds and white spaces all giving a mystic touch to his work.
He presented a collection of 14 paintings using diverse media - pigment, gouache, gold and silver leaf engraved on Wasli. He creates images with strong impulse showing different sides of culture in a society from soft to rigid.
He symbolises softness of the society by a feminine figure and strong side by an elephant both standing side by side showing a balance in society and two faces of society in which we live.
His paintings show a large globe shedding small leave like things by wind as the trees experience this phenomenon during chill winter mornings giving a sign of hope. Other signs include sea shells, clouds and a foetus thus explaining a comparison of life experiences good and bad, happiness and sadness, positive and negative.
He handles the subject with sensitivity which can be judged by his choice of symbolic objects and characters. He chooses unpopular signs to express his feelings towards society. He tries to use soft tones with soft symbols even for harsh realities.
We see a foetus in his painting delicate and vulnerable thus revealing a combination of hope and sacrifice at the same time. Human arrival in this world is a hope and his life time experiences are sacrifices which he give for the hope he has for the life in this world.
There are many thought provoking art works that invites a viewer to ponder. The images vary from painting to painting giving a vast scope to people to deal with. He truly portrays the feelings of life that is a mystery for all humanity as long as we live. His unique style is appreciable and his sensitive handling of media is great.
The colour pattern and the backdrop of his paintings support his work; especially the use of white colour balances his painting and gives it a soft mystic look. He had several solo exhibitions at home and abroad, in countries like Hong Kong, France, United States and India. nadeemzuberi71@gmail.com