Tanzara Art Gallery (TAG) will hold the solo show on works of a Karachi based artist, A Q Arif here on February 18. The show would continue till February 27 presenting the latest works of painter A.Q. Arif who creates beautiful dreamy landscapes in a semi-realistic manner Almost mirage like, the architectural elements in his work, domes and tall buildings shimmer as reflected images in wide pools of water.
These delicately portrayed structures loosely link his present mood too earlier from his Karachi paintings when his chief source of inspiration was the remnants of a bygone era. The artist was fascinated by the remnants of old structures found in the city now neglected and unnoticed by the busy passer by. Arif uses a mixed media technique consisting of oils and acrylic paint while he is immersed in a world of landscape fantasy featuring the lotus flowers, radiant in the moonlight, lightening up night blue pools.
The varied images touched by fantasy are unspoiled by human habitation. There are grand facades but they are empty in their grandeur - all is peaceful and nature reigns supreme. The old Mughal City of Lahore itself is a source of influence in the artist's work and he sees the beauty with the eyes of a newcomer aware of the heritage and history that gave rise to such monuments.