KARACHI: An exhibition of contemporary art titled Artists of the Manifesto of Nomadism displaying works of three artists — Ali Khan, Manizhe Ali and Paul-Mehdi Rizvi — opened at the Full Circle Gallery on Friday evening.

Nomadism is about wandering and transitory abodes. This needs to be emphasised because the three artists do, in a manner of speaking, hint at the transient nature of life. Nostalgia, durability of relationships and the tussle between body and soul take centre stage in their creative pursuits.

Ali Khan’s ‘Shaman’ (oil, plaster, gold leaf on canvas) is a fine example to get the hang, as it were, of the exhibition. It’s a striking work of art. Interpretations can be subjective, but with this piece it would be hard to deny that looking at it, somehow, gives the viewer a feeling of two forces countering each other without getting into a feverish clash. The gold leaf does the trick. It balances the redness that envelops the canvas (which does not need to be construed) rather comfortingly and comfortably.

Manizhe Ali grapples with the idea of the days gone by and how they affect the artist in the contemporary world. It is not as much a question of identity as it is of trying to find your place in the continuum of history. This history, however, is not thought of in abstract terms; it is tangible history — it is to do with people. ‘I Searched for Resemblance’ (digital prints on archival paper) is a special exhibit because by not letting the viewer see the eyes of the protagonist in three frames means while the characters remain the same, it is the perception of that character that has changed, or can be changed.

Paul-Mehdi Rizvi surprises, pleasantly at that, with his technical prowess. According to the curatorial statement developed for the show, his work ‘travels down to the classical Greek concept of presence and absence’. This is oversimplifying his effort. The most noteworthy feature of his artworks is the tenderness that lurks beneath the physical force with which he creates art on wood and canvas. The ‘Father and Daughter’ series (mixed media on cloth and wood) is a testimony to the observation. Rizvi’s artworks pose a challenge to the viewer, the kind of challenge that intelligent film-makers throw at cine-goers by telling them less than what they show to them.

The exhibition will continue until Jan 20.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2016