KARACHI: Seven artists, one aim: to create art with a view to discovering a synergised approach to existence. This is a difficult undertaking especially when the artists belong to varied backgrounds.

The exhibition titled ‘Incubator’, a result of the Artist-in-Residence Programme by Sanat Initiative under way at its gallery, is an examination of how Pakistani art wants to stick to its traditional roots and at the same time wishes to move shoulder to shoulder with contemporary trends. To be honest, it’s doing pretty good on both counts.

The claim can be verified by looking at the very first exhibit, Rohail Ghouri’s untitled piece (pointer and gouache on paper). The viewer can easily figure out the transformation that the artist is hinting at. It can be from the rural to the urban, from the personal to the collective, or from the aesthetic to the tasteless. The fact that he chose pointer and gouache to make his artwork is quite interesting because it is a combination that is not often used. What it does is that it makes the sketchiness of the exhibit and the opaqueness of the idea more pronounced.

Sajid Khan makes ‘A Wasted Wish’ (graphite on wasli) and draws the viewer’s attention to it. It is obvious that it is the tumult in society that is the subject of his artworks. The ephemeral nature of peace, to be precise.

Ghulam Mohammad brings together text and visuals in a delicate artwork, an untitled diptych (collage on wasli). But things become clearer with a couple of his next pieces such as ‘Daira Kaar’ and ‘Gunjaan’. The circle in his works is a give-away, not in the conventional sense though.

Arsalan Nasir introduces the interactive element into the show with ‘Chanda Hai Tu Mera’ (print on archival paper, dough, aluminium, LED & sensor) and lends it variety.

Zahra Asim’s paintings help art lovers return to familiar territories with a series called ‘Difference’ (oil on board). This is realism at its youthful. The artist has tried to touch upon the way things are seen to be accepted rather than accepted to be seen.

Kiran Saleem, on the other hand, studies the role of perfunctory things as they’re played out in our lives while Abid Aslam comes up with tiny portraits in the ‘Conversation’ series (graphite and ring on wasli), and according to the statement provided by the gallery, he draws his inspiration from the city of Karachi.

The exhibition curated by Muhammad Zeeshan will run till July 24.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2014