KARACHI: This is special in more ways than one. Muhammad Ismail is an artist who you will find in a wheelchair. This means his physical movement is hampered by some disability. But then, as once put by a famous artiste, difficulty induces growth.

Ismail’s creative energy and fertile imagination makes him transcend his physical self and move into a realm where ordinary men can only dream of reaching. This is more than evident in an exhibition of his sculptural work, aptly titled ‘Determination’, under way at the Art Chowk Gallery.

The metalwork on display is striking on multiple levels. First, it speaks of a sentient state that is rare in artworks made out of pieces of inanimate objects of daily use that are found in virtually every household — namely a bunch of keys. Secondly, there’s a fair degree of finesse in his art. Add to this the ability of some of the artworks to come across as artefacts in motion, and you get an engaging show.

Ismail makes his intentions clear with the first artwork on display, ‘Identity’, that is a shout-out in favour of the power of intellect. The pen is mightier than the sword, he might argue. The artist in him comes to the fore with an artwork called ‘Feeling’. There is an element of deliberateness to it. It is not easy to instil feeling, as it were, in metal. That’s where the artist is trying to prove a point. Art surpasses life, or has the ability to surpass life; therefore what the viewer feels viewing that particular work of art is readily identifiable.

This artistry is enhanced in a larger piece, ‘In Waiting’. The skeletal figure has a presence which is both endearing and imminent. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to suggest that the figure has a ‘spirit’ — a palpable spirit.

Apart from that, Ismail’s take on the current sociopolitical scenario through ‘Gun Salute’ and his tribute to the cultural diversity of the country — ‘Sain Zahoor’, ‘Junoon’ — are equally impressive.

The show will continue till Nov 30.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2014