ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: Raja Changez Sultan on Saturday put up some of his latest works at the Mezzo/Gallerie Changez for public viewing.

It is after quite some time that he has decided to display his works. The show was formally inaugurated at 4:30pm.

He has turned 'Mezzo', a restaurant known for offering mixed European cuisine and continental dishes, into a beautifully appointed art gallery with the dining arrangements done in a subtle manner.

Raja Changez has returned to the Islamabad art scene after almost over two years and he has indeed done this in style. His exhibition titled 'The divided self' is a beautiful display of over 24 very sensual and mysterious paintings.

He said most of his works put on show were done over the last four months. "Most of this is fresh. It just happened that I had this craving to paint and this is the result in front of you. I hope you would like it," he said in his affectionate style.

Raja Changez, a seasoned painter, has indeed hit the canvas this time with passion. He has painted female, in groups and in single form, nude as well as wrapped in revealing manner, or shining from behind the shrouding, swirling mist.

He has played with the colours, and the images produced on the canvas or paper with oil, all larger than the normal size one comes across, are beautiful, captivating and intriguing. With the dark, murky backgrounds the objects shine through which catch full focus of the viewer.

"I always paint in oil on canvas or on paper. Nothing else," he said. Over the last few months, a number of painters have displayed works, more and more focussing on female and many have painted nudes. But the paintings by Raja Changez are indeed different, highly sensual and intriguing.