As I enter the Canvas Gallery to attend the exhibition of art works by Muhammad Zeeshan, I couldn't resist admiring the presentation of the occasion by professionals. At the entrance the large size paintings done in graphite on sandpaper in reverse with white shadowy images, giving a dreamy look to the venue.
Samina Raja, the curator of the gallery is promoting contemporary art of Pakistan and has very well managed the gallery and properly maintained it for the visitors. Our artists in miniature painting strictly follow the tradition of the old masters of miniature. Many artists made notable innovations in it but do not deviate from the basic elements of the miniature. The artists use old paintings in their own compositions.
But now most miniature paintings done in modern times by the students passing out from NCA miniature department the basic techniques of the miniature art is lost somewhere in their modern approach. The drawings exhibition titled 'The Dying Miniature' by Muhammad Zeeshan raise the same question about the extinction of miniature. The new art mannerism evolving in 21st century put every style of art on the anvil for experimentation and innovation including miniature.
As a result the artists have been able to take so much mileage out of the traditional techniques, imagery, elements and cultural aspects existing within the genre. And during a number of years, miniature too used by the artists to describe non-miniature subjects by inversions, makeovers, reintroduction and separation according to their own will and desire.
In order to see things and the world as a whole in their own way new miniature artists want to explore other directions without losing roots of the art. Muhammad Zeeshan is trying to apply the same theory.
As the realities are changing around the world the art is also moving towards new ideas world-wide. The phrase of 'conceptual art' in the new world order has left behind the painterly approach and techniques that over the year's process with hard labour gives a genuine artist to the society.
Artists continuously learnt and experienced the art of painting and go through the artistic process that include the understanding of application and demonstration on the canvas. They evolved through a long process of practice and presentation, learns how to deal with the subject and perfectly conveys their message through their works.
It seems that during the years artist's deep involvement with his/her work, the basic unit is fading in the existing amalgamation of different techniques and textures.
Today artists talk mostly about the material they have used in their work rather than techniques and medium and the vision and message that an artist suppose to convey to the viewers. Now many a time artists leave much to the onlooker's imagination.
In his recent work Zeeshan, an NCA graduate in miniature painting, expressed his creativity in a new way. He deliberately used the reversal of all things in miniature. He altered the way in which miniature techniques work. By using graphite on sandpaper he tried to create a conversation with the viewer concerning the images. He barrowed images from historical events and historical books thus parallel symbols from distinctive backgrounds and cultures creating different pictures popping up in sandpaper.
However there is a tonal variation in his works the play of light and dark on the surface of the paper gives a different look and invites viewers to contemplate. In 'The Dying Miniature' Zeeshan used total opposite of miniature. The large size of the images is opposite to the delicate small sizes of the traditional miniature style, thus constantly conflicting, contradicting, yet conversing and connecting.
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