KARACHI: Perhaps the only simple aspect of T. S. Eliot’s phenomenal and path-breaking poem ‘The Wasteland’ is its title. To get the drift of the rest of the poem one needs to be exceedingly well-read and poetic enough to enjoy the lilting resonance of the lines. But we can tell, by inferring from the title, that the poet focuses on, and laments, the hollowness, primarily spiritual hollowness, in Western society.

An exhibition of artworks that opened at the Art Chowk gallery on Thursday with the same name, Wasteland, discusses that as well as some other ideas.

Five artists — Syed Haider Ali Naqvi, Romessa Khan, Ayesha Akbar, Imran Mudassar and Ussama bin Naveed — are taking part in the show. All of them appear to have taken a subjective stance in addressing their topics.

Haider blurs the peripheries of the signs of before — and after — an event has taken place. He puts a halt to a scene and then within that halted state creates meaning for the viewer. This happens on an imperceptible level. The viewer has to be ultra alert to his art.

With ‘Takhleeq-i-Nau’ (ink on sheet), Romessa touches upon a convoluted issue pertaining to existence. It is a convoluted issue because a detailed analysis of the artwork would reveal that the artist wishes to simplify the complexities of existence, and yet both (complexity and simplicity) appear to be mutually reinforcing.

There’s a hint of serenity in Ayesha’s works. She provides a nice little counterpoint to the rest of the artists’ exhibits on display. Interestingly, and keeping with the theme of the show, the latent tumult (which may or may never manifest itself) in the backdrop of her paintings is hard to miss.

Imran is clear in stating a point. The unrest around him, both personal and societal, is what he tries to come to terms with. The only way to do it is to paint it, as can be seen in his untitled pieces (paint, pencil, tea wash on paper).

The moments that Ussama has captured have a stillness that is seldom detected in kinetic energy — a case in point being ‘Ashfaq Ali Khan Road’ (oil on canvas). Cool stuff.

The exhibition curated by Asim Akhtar will run till Dec 8.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2016