Diversity in Unity, in the Age of Dialogue

Contributed by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ali Bhatti
Director, Institute of Art and Design,
University of Sindh, Jamshoro

(The author has selected a few artists randomly from the pool of the artists exhibiting with us, without any preference of one over the other)

"Combine all your healthy wishes, dreams and hopes into investing in your talent and in the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom. If your art contributes to society, or to the art enthusiasts around you, then you are rewarded honestly, and more so if you make yourself useful to the world around you." (Samuel Adoquei)

Our country is a combination of diverse ethnic and cultural groups of numerous dialect and language. Each province has its own rich cultural heritage and indigenous arts and crafts, which are still practiced and nurtured, however, since last three decades a lot has changed in the art world. Traditional art aesthetics is changing and modern aesthetics is taking place, conceptual art-works are seen as true creative art by the connoisseurship in the country and abroad. Shift in how art work is looked and experienced has opened a new debate in the art world, many art institutions and art galleries have contributed in promoting the dialogue through the arts, an acceptance of new challenges of the time and artistic freedom of expression.

I believe that, it is the mission of the “RASTAY” to provide a forum of freedom of expression to artists of all the provinces, for creative new avenues of freedom, accepting challenges of experiments, breaking of the barriers of intolerance, prejudices and discrimination in the society. If we ask question to an artist, that what is art or why do artists create art? Questions such as these are more easily asked than answered, because if one has to answer this question, then one must necessarily answer such question “why poetry”,  “why music” etc. The question such as “what is art” and “why art” can arise only when one is unable to experience art.  The matter of fact is that urge to create and to construct is fundamental to human nature, and since the ancient times, there have been several theories of art and aesthetics for particular times, cultures and purposes, but there is not a single theory of art which may be considered to be followed permanently. However, most scholars agree that art is the best way to communicate emotions and feelings, ideas, experiences, imaginations, statements, experiments and above all art is for the purpose of aesthetic satisfaction which is enjoyed during the process of creativity of an artwork. It is kind of initiating a dialogue between the artist and the art work itself as well as with the spectator.

I consider “RASTAY” is opening of new vistas of wisdom, freedom, tolerance and harmony in the nation through the arts. It is a hope for diversity in unity. This year about 150 young and senior artists from all provinces of Pakistan and abroad are participating in the group show at National Gallery Islamabad. An Exhibition of this magnitude brings a variety of subjects, styles and mediums are connotation of freedom of expression. After reviewing artworks of the respective artists, one thing apparently floats in the mind that each artist is seemingly aware of the changing art world, no matter what content or form of the art work may be, it shows commitment and taste of aesthetic experience. I wish that, I could discuss and critique each and every artwork displayed in the Group show, however, I have some artworks available representing youth and some established artists of Pakistan for tasting the flavor of aesthetic sensibility.

I have chosen some artworks representing all provinces, for example from Balochistan, There are two artists such as Kaleem Khan and Akram Dost, who have inspired many budding artists like Abdeen, Abdul Hameed, Akber Din, Aziz Mangle, Faheem Baloch, Haleem Khan, Muneera Shahid, Zaman, Pir Tareen and Qasim Changezi are some of the few practicing artists who have contributed Nationally and Internationally. Kaleem Khan is a painter of genre of Balochistan, he captures the life of nomads and ordinary people sitting in a village café or landscape. His thickly treated canvases in impressionistic style, captures the essence of mountainous valleys and simplicity of the people. In Kaleem’s paintings, one can find mystic and warm colors of balochi nomad women with young family riding donkey, has a typical environment painted both with thin and thick layers of translucent colors and impasto. Akram Dost on the other hand is greatly inspired by the experiments and innovations in art. His textural treatment of the surface and concepts attracts the viewer.

Asmarah Ahmed from Lahore has a fine sense of composition, though the objects and elements seems to be very simple, but her understanding of putting things at the right place is superb. It appears to be a vibrant and active canvas and treatment of color is simple though, it binds the negative and positive space together, which is juxtaposed by various objects such as nails, screws, wire and wood pieces for the interest of visual continuity. It is very simple looking composition and the content of the painting is very sturdy that symbolizes the crudeness and harshness of life and having strong connotation to agony, pain and difficulty of life. Another foreign artist Corrina Wagner from Germany has interesting and creative composition. She appears to be interested in digital painting, a non objective painter with a strong sense of contrasting and bright color. Her multiple and abstract image is juxtaposed by dark and light colors and connected through textured surface. There is an interesting variety of appearance and disappearance of lines and shapes, interplay of yellow, purple and Persian blue is super imposed by green touches which is appropriately placed and keeps the image lively.

Faiza Khan’s content in the paining aesthetically is very inspiring, and the negative and positive areas are sensibly arranged at the right place, though connected subtly with twisting and swirling lines of the female form. Yellow, brown, blues and greens seem complementing each other. Female form is delicately simplified and subtly suggested, not defined on purpose in the interest of overall mood of the subject and composition; and allowing a dialogue between the sitter and the viewer. The agony of life in society is rendered with incompleteness of the female figure, delicately narrated by the conscious arrangement of darks and lights and contrasting colors. Images are simplified and left incomplete and confused with the surroundings.

Hajra Mansoor is one of the most committed Orientalists of Pakistan. She has been painting very actively since last so many years, and have been putting up shows extensively in and out of the Country. She has taken the inspiration from Chughtai’s simplified and exaggerated style; and personalized it in a unique poetic and romantic of line and ornamentation in her paintings. Her female figures are very delicately rendered in poetic form. Extra large drunken eyes with thin nose and luscious lips with Ajanta like female figures have been the focus of her compositions. Decorative ornaments, curtain, jewelry and oriental setting are simplified with lyrical lines of watercolor, marker or color pencils or with poster color.  

Jamal Shah is also one of the seasoned and highly learned painters of Pakistan. His aesthetic sensibility of randomly composing the distorted figures and forms in a complex situation is his unique style.  The textured surface of the canvas and the crudeness of forms are complemented by signs and symbols of the evil and wise, which are his socio-political statements. His spontaneous and dramatic color application such as deep blue, red, green and yellow and the complex interplay of human form and flowers are examples of his profound aesthetic sensibility. Texture and rough surface of the canvas describes the agony and the social conditions of human in our society, though the figures are generalized but it depicts the difficulties inhumanity, injustice in our society. His composition depicts various symbols and sings, which helps to indicate the pain and happiness, the contrasting elements of life. His bold paintings, spontaneous brush strokes are very interesting, and his simplified abstraction is very convincing and having mature artistic qualities. I think Jamal Shah is one of the finest painters of Pakistan, and his abstraction and treatment of the canvas is tremendous.

Kashif Imran is another brilliant abstract painter from Islamabad, his vibrant, spontaneous and complex visual drama is very interesting. His sensibility of negative and positive space is remarkable, interplay of line and colors are bold, appearance and disappearance of form is fascinating in the composition. Maqbool Ahmed is another interesting painter from Karachi, whose dream like compositions are surrounded by crystal like geometrical shapes such as squires, triangles that are juxtaposed through translucent colors. His interplay of lights and darks is the central theme of his ideas, strong content, interesting and mysterious setting like composition seems like surrealistic imagery showing his influence from Dali. His female figures are placed in a romantic and idealized setting. His understanding of composition and aesthetic sensibility indicates that Maqbool is a seasoned and committed artist. Nadia Arif is an idealistic painter of still life, her flowers are very decorative and simplified. Vases are placed in the center of the composition and she places emphasis on foliage and colorful flowers. Natasha Iqbal is another interesting painter from Islamabad. Her composition appears to be surrealistic in a mysterious setting. The canvas is divided in three parts, foreground, middle ground and background. The water-pot is placed right in the very middle of the canvas surrounded by chessboard like imagery, and there are two mysterious forms placed in the middle. Overall, it is a very interesting, very unique, and very thoughtful interpretation of human sufferings in the future, in which without water people will be helpless, so there is “Earth” “Water” and “Sky”, and the chess board like setting and dark mountain in the background, definitely explains the difficulty for humans without water.

Raja Changez Sultan is one of the finest painters of Pakistan, he is basically a figurative painter, however, and his treatment of the canvas is so mysterious, smoothly textured surface, softly applied colors, and the translucent layers through which his figures feel like emerging from the foggy background. It is a poetic interpretation of human sufferings, feelings, emotions or may be human psychic powers, which are very interestingly placed on canvas. Blurred female figures, some times two or three angle like beautiful faces are emerging from the spiritual world and are attempting to connect the outer world. Dissolving features and appearance and disappearance of the female figures are like roaming souls, flying down to the earth through the canvases and trying to touch the humans. This is a signature style of Raja Changes Khan, though his pallet is limited, but the spirituality and ambiguity of the forms are very interesting. Some times he places his figures against the blue background, but still the figures remains invisible, they appear to be like the images of fairies, dancing and twisting in the moonlight. His female figures apparently have nothing to do with the physical world, as if they belong to the spiritual world. They seem like spirits coming to the earth, touching the soul of human beings with controlled emotions, are very interesting expressions of Raja Sahib. This kind of a treatment to canvases is very interesting and makes Raja Changez Sultan one of the finest painters of Pakistan.

Tayyaba Ahmed is a practicing artist and an art teacher. She taught and worked as HOD at the Art Department, Peshawar University, and she is famous for her watercolor paintings in a traditional technique. However, she also has been experimenting with other mediums and styles. In her latest paintings, she has experimented with the modern design, with stylized form, and the way she has treated the surface is unique and decorative. Her sense of composition is very impressive and a simple subject of drapery as a subject of art is very interesting to see that her boldness and understanding of form and application of color is superb. She has inspired many students during her teaching at Peshawar University, and her contribution for the promotion of art and culture shall always be remembered.

Saeed Akhter is one of the articulated portrait painters of Pakistan. He taught at NCA and continued studio practice at the same time. He possesses a great understanding of drawing and composition; and known as a master of capturing contour of his sitter. Since 1960, his acquaintance with Prof. Shakir Ali during his student life and teaching at NCA opened new doors of artistic sensibility and craftsmanship for him. As a portrait painter, he enjoys painting facial planes and characteristics with great love and enthusiasm, which brings an eternal energy to his models. Though his pallet is limited, however, his interpretation of the lights and darks and variant tonal gradation conveys a new life to his portraits. Saeed Akhter has painted portraits of National heroes, corporate and for private collection, and his portrait of Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the National Assembly is a Landmark and proudly made him the winner of Pride of Performance. Saeed Akhtar has been a figurative painter throughout his carrier, however, some times, for the sake of change he has attempted to maneuver his figures with a decorative surroundings of compositions. In recent years, he has gone a step forward and has painted a series of figurative paintings with spiritual commitment as he claims. Alien female figures are placed in the center of canvas with exotic postures, extremely exaggerated facial features with mystic expressions, half veiled and half naked female figures are decorated with conspicuous jewelry. Saeed Akhter’s contribution in the Art History of Pakistan will always be acknowledged.

Rabia Dawood is a committed and young painter, she graduated from Karachi school of Art, and since then she has been painting regularly and participating actively in group show. Currently, she appears to be practicing with electronic mediums for her contemporary concepts which have deeper connections with the spiritualism. In the painting a mysterious female figure is placed in the lower half f the canvas, surrounded by the horizontally placed a series of rosary “Tasbeh” dividing the surface in two major portions, though connected with the vertical motifs, which shows subtle arrangements within the canvas. The central figure is deliberately simplified for the interest of mystic content, which symbolizes holiness, humbleness, eternal peace and humanity. The empty mysterious background shows that there is nothing but an ambiguous darkness. Her paintings may seem simple at first sight, but they have a very strong content and they are very interesting. 

Saba Saleem from Lahore belongs to a group of young artists who are known as contemporary Miniature painters of Pakistan, which is a new phenomenon in the history of art. The contemporary miniature school was initiated mainly by Ustaad Bashir of National College of Arts Lahore, who has given a new life to miniature painting in the country and has taken it up to an elevated level of Art aesthetics. Saba’s artwork is produced in a traditional miniature technique however, composed in contemporary setting. The surface is brilliantly treated with a variety of subjects and intelligently orchestrated with a collage like interplay of images. In the next painting, there is an interesting cropped torso of a local man, which is very softly and delicately painted in miniature style. At the right bottom, there is an image of a butterfly, the details are very carefully and delicately drawn and painted with thin layers of multiple colors. The butterfly is shown with all minute details and placed against a white background allowing repetition and contrasting colors of the man and the butterfly for achieving the beauty of design.