The works of six young artists recently graduated from the National College of Arts, Lahore and Rawalpindi, were a celebration of the apparent spontaneity and compelling individuality of each artist in a group show titled 'Department store' at Sanat Gallery, Karachi.
The show was curated by critically acclaimed artist Muhammad Zeeshan features the artworks of Amna Rahman, Jazib Jacob, Muzammil Khan, Noshad Ali, Saddam Murad and Salman Khan. Although alma mater of same institute, the NCA, the works of each of the artist followed his/her respective intentions, and reflected the diverse nature of their background, inspiration as well as aspiration.
"Whether painting or drawing and irrespective of the technique and medium used, each artist through their practice not only explored an interest which is very personal but stands out with a vocabulary and language that is uniquely his/her own," said Zeeshan.
Amna Rehman's portraits portrayed a beautiful relationship between women in a household whether mother, sister, aunt, cousin or grandmother the relationship of these women with each other create a bond that make stability in a family.
These women live together their whole life sharing joys and sadness through life. Providing comfort and solace for each other in times of agony and celebrate happy moments so that they enjoy life at most they can. As time passes their relation became stronger an endless bond was created among them that last with the end of life. The distances could not weaken their bond they are for each other forever.
Saddam Murad's work focused on women issues. He highlighted the way women treated in our society just like an object which can be used whenever desired and then put back on the shelf for decoration purpose. It seemed as if women have no feelings and emotions therefore they were once called aliens from another planet because they were different in every aspect from men.
The works portrayed relation of men and women they may sit side by side and sleep side by side but in reality they are not equal in any aspect of life. Whether decision making, to financial matters, property matters and marriage choice they were treated as a commodity and play with their lives by their own rules. The rules that were set for centuries and still waiting to be changed but can they be changed was the question asked through the works. He used tones of blue and grays to represent both men and women. The nude faceless figures indicated that in some cases men are also victims of this society. In a way both suffer sometimes directly but other times indirectly.
Muhammad Muzammil relived his past through his works. He portrayed ruins of a home through the doors and the broken walls, fallen bricks all were his childhood memories. He remembered his home which is now demolished and tried to transform the pictures of that home from his memories on to his canvas. He captured the long view as well as detailed view of his home and its surroundings.
His love for his home was symbolic to our love for our country and how it is being demolished like the artists home brick by brick. We must understand the reasons and made favorable circumstances to deal with this situation. The cracked walls and broken furniture specially a chair laying down on the floor were symbolic of our system and the rulers which were being failed in saving our home from being demolished bit by bit.
The semi-abstract works of Noshad Ali's were seemed to be explorations of lines, shapes and patterns. He created his compositions from a line the basic element of design. He then deviated from the straight line and form complex patterns. Thus the line recurs in a single work creating a curing remedy for an old ailment.
The repetition of lines, circles and semi-circles formed intricate structures. The geometrical designs were over-complicated and puzzling. He portrayed confused personality which was hard to understand. The works were like a labyrinthine of maze that has no beginning and ending point. The works revealed uncertain, embarrassed and muddled society. He thus created a constant dialogue to develop a sense of right and wrong. The mostly black and white patterns made illusions but in a few works the artists tried to create harmony by adding red and cyan colours to circular patterns.
Jazib Jacob also used abstract mood of painting to reveal his views and inspirations. The compositions appeared like a chemical reaction or diffusion of a solution in another solution. The direction of bubbles created portrayed a specific reaction resulted due to particular experiment. The microscopic and monochromatic impressions were a result of inspiration from alchemy.
Thus his works were an experiment in which molecules of different substances in various shapes and sizes merge and submerge with each other creating an ambiance that developed due to certain chain reaction or certain circumstances play their role to form such illusionary creations.
Salman Khan used carefully his brushstrokes to create transparent affects like a glass sheet. The surfaces of his works were just like surface of a classroom blackboard when it was wiped by a wet duster the patterns and designs created due to wet chalk. These designs remind one of the childhood, playing with chalk and trying to form something different and unusual on the blackboard. Similarly the patches of white colour against gray background and long gestural strokes showing energy that wanted to come out in one form or another. Just as kids do the spontaneous brushstrokes resulted in something meaningful or delightful for the artist. The satisfaction of doing what you want to do was evident in his works. nadeemzuberi71@gmail.com