LAHORE: The Royaat Art Gallery is holding an exhibition based on a colour theme, which has been chosen for the entire collection. It is beginning on Thursday (today).

The participating artists draw on the colour green for their inspiration for this show, resulting in a vibrant display. They explore the range of this rich palette producing incandescent landscapes as well as figurative themes reflecting the spirit of green.

The exhibit is scheduled to showcase landscapes, delicately detailing the Punjab countryside. Ghulam Mustafa’s paintings reveal the myriad hues of spring time green, depicting fields awash with colour that almost seem to dance on the canvas.

Muhammad Arshad’s refined brush stroke captures the dewy light of the first spring bloom revealing the magic of creation. Rahat Masud uses her palette to skillfully use light to depict our intimate encounters with nature, reflecting the simple pleasure of lying in a sweet-smelling bed of grass.

Shehla Farooq also strongly evokes the tactile in her delightful depiction of a juicy green apple.

Nature’s green is also depicted through the creations of Amna Pataudi, Khalid Mehmood and Maliha Azami Aga. Amna Pataudi’s stunning landscape glows effervescent in a brilliant blue and green, capturing and enhancing nature’s colours almost as if we are seeing them through an alternate lens.

Khalid Mehmood’s paints gold light over a canvas of sea green -- one where the horizon meets the water edge and envelops it whole, creating a visceral sense of infinity.

Maliha Azami Aga uses multimedia to create a playful image of a fruit tree, tempting you with all its colorful bobbles.

Scheherezade Junejo and Farrukh Shahab capture the spirit of green in their figurative works. Junejo depicts a sinewy form with graceful curves in spite of its crumpled shape, which when once fully awakened, could be expected to leap in the air with its horns held high.

Farrukh Shahab’s brilliantly attired ‘malang baba’ is depicted as a master of cool -- a satirical twist on his street-wise spirituality.

Shehla Farooq also exhibits a fine example of calligraphy where the verses roll on a sea of green against a setting sun.

‘A Rhapsody on Green’, as the exhibition is titled, will be open from Nov 27 to Dec 4 at 21 Z, Phase III of DHA. This show is curated to pay homage to nature’s brilliant palette and represent some of the most innovative artists in the country.

Published in Dawn, November 27th , 2014