Aprogramme of young artists’ residencies planned by the Sanat Gallery, Karachi, curated by Mohammad Zeeshan, continued with the second initiative showing the unique and exciting artistic viewpoints of seven extremely gifted artists coming from, Lahore, Gujranwala, Abbotabad, Balochistan and Karachi. All but one are graduates of the National College of Arts; Naveed Siddiqui, the exception, is a graduate of the newly opened North City School, Karachi.

Viewing the exhibition, one entered the Sanat Gallery to be taken aback by the eye-catching, marvelous painting by Zahid Mayo titled ‘The first supper’. The painting commemorates the first meeting and meal together of the seven artists accompanied by Zeeshan. Reaching the Karachi residency they set the table prior to sitting and standing around it with Zeeshan sitting in the centre and holding the ensemble together.

Someone commented it resembled ‘The Last Supper’, while another artist observed it was the first supper, hence the title, of the painting that is a museum piece. In another artwork displayed, Mayo had captured the atmosphere of the ‘Itwar Bazaar’, the crowds the movement, the interest and in a set of sketches on cardboard from boxes, etc, he appeared as a reincarnation of the old master, Zainul Abedin.

A show displaying the unique artistic viewpoints of seven gifted artists

Hussain Jamil’s series of skillfully painted works followed in practice miniature art traditions with a contemporary viewpoint. One viewed the dignified shadowy processions led by an emperor of the past framing, the composition of very human and rather comical groups of figures representing perhaps, those ‘emperors’ of present times.

Looking at the work of Wajahat Ali was on the first impression to view peaceful sea and landscapes worked with digital prints on canvas and paper until one switched a torch on the work and discovered the background full of action with symbols of war drawn with invisible ink. The grandson of Ustad Allah Bux, Ali had a selection of his work shown in a separate, atmospheric space with torches available for the dramatic unveiling of action.

The work of sculptor Saud Baloch based on the horror of the ‘missing people’ outrage continuing in Balochistan, is a strong statement of the times. The perfectly sculpted form of a man imprisoned in a chair, head imprisoned in a sack is so realistic that one expects to see the rise and fall of a breathing chest. Among the sculpted pieces contributed by the artist one discovers a collection of 67 small sacks hanging from strings and filled with whatever the viewer imagines. To the veterans of troubled times these undoubtedly appear as body bags.

Using found photographs as a base for her artworks, Naira Mushtaq creates scenarios that lead the viewer on a journey emphasising on the ravages of time. Faded landscapes, the almost obliterated faces with old fashioned hairstyles and clothes, lead one into a mood of nostalgia as, at the same time, one clings to half-forgotten memories.

Working with pen on paper, convex mirror, linocut print and wood, Naveed Siddiqui showed intriguing images with ostensibly abstract patterns on wood, linocut print and paper. Surprisingly, the scene changes when viewed through the steel cylinder and one is transported to scenes with crowds of people, individual faces and other recognisable objects like revealed secrets. The artist’s work reminds us of the many things going on around us that we close our eyes to.

Standing before the narrative series of tiny houses — each roof topped with an insect, one picked up the ear phones to be serenaded for a few moments by a lullaby before the sound of screeching traffic broke the spell. The work of miniaturist Mamoona Riaz, traced her journey from various locations. A tiny house in a jewellery box represented the treasure of home. Continuing the changes of times and locations, the artist created a series of ink on transfer print floral shapes from maps ranging over a period of a century of Karachi.

The results of the artists’ residency were extremely interesting. One enjoyed the work a lot and felt invigorated and determined to watch out in future for the work of each and every one of these unique and highly talented, young artists.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, December 21st, 2014