Creating meaningful art with printmaking and painting Dom Pattinson tried to capture the essence of daily life in his imaginative recollection of people, things and animals. Born in 1969, Pattinson acquired a BA Hons at the Winchester School of Art and an MA at the Glasgow School of Art to fulfil his passion for art.
Pattinson in his youth discovered the raw urban art on the walls, unfolding stories of everyday people, objects and events while visiting Northern Ireland. And the urban art inspired him so much so that he developed his own unique style of art-making by combining fine art and urban art.
His works seemed to be like a person's daily diary in which he describes everyday events that a person experience wile living life in a city. He created art in a hope to connect with people through his works at their own level. He also wanted to convey emotions and recollections of his childhood so that younger generation also connect themselves to his works.
His five senses helped him creating artworks by using quick-drying spray and stencils in his imagery. Experimentation with printmaking, stencilling, spray-painting, collage and acrylics help him to capture the moments of everyday life. His works were often comprised of repeated stencil patterns against white background having bold black and white images of his subjects balanced by using colourful palette.
The images of children, animals and weapons recur in his canvas and paper works at Sanat Gallery, Karachi. The artist revealed that his aim is to promote peace and hope through his works.
An artwork titled "Irrelevant Elephant" showed an elephant spraying out a rainbow from its tusk and a pink heart is made to indicate its ear portrayed love and peace- heart for love and rainbow for peace.
One can witness a ferocious but colourful leopard coming out of paper in a piece titled "Coming Through". The artwork had a 3D look therefore attracted viewers more.
Another work showing animal presence was with a cow titled "Love is All You Need". The cow was having green round glasses and a beads necklace just like an animal before being slaughtered seeking love. The word love written in bold letters in the background of the painting made the point. Thus the work was an animal rights presenter.
"Loves Great Loss" was another piece with a child playing a violin with 'King' cards in the background. The violin is a peaceful musical instrument with a soft tune. Therefore it seemed to indicate peace in the oppressive regime.
"We Are What You Make Us" indicated a worldwide problem of children trapped in violent situations in different countries and also at home, which is shown by the image of an innocent, happy child playing with a toy cannon with a 'peace' sign in the background.
Two children playing in the bathtub painted in rainbow colours titled "In It Together" addressed the much talked about issue of today immigration crisis. The alarming situations created during the travelling of people from one destination to another are traumatising children other than adults. The artwork was indicative of the children lost their lives while trying to cross sea in small boats.
A girl surrounded by colourful flowers smelling a flower in a work titled "While Smells Like Rain" reminded the viewers of their childhood pleasures of rain poring in. Such small things in life keep people live in times of turbulence and thus became the essence of life for many.
The loose quickness of spray paint and stencilling are quite a contrast to traditional painting or miniature paintings seen in Pakistan when an artist here use stencils in his/her work he/she is criticised by the art critics and art connoisseurs but when an artist from abroad use the same technique he is praised by all and everybody seemed to laud and enjoy his works, it is a dilemma of our local art world.
Considered illegal worldwide street art's objectives differ from artist to artist. But Urban Art is fast becoming popular. And therefore we are also becoming familiar with this genre of art. nadeemzuberi71@gmail.com