In a remarkable portrait titled ‘Girl in chemise’ the master artists Picasso shows how effectively an artist can make the viewer distract from the real subject. The title suggests a form of a dress worn by a girl, which is a thing of beauty in itself. But while doing so he perhaps wanted the viewer not to pay attention to the face of the girl, at least initially, because it is her visage which the artist seems to have spent more time on drawing. The expression on her face is indecipherable to a great extent. Yet, they say, the face is the window to a human’s soul.

A group show titled, ‘Portraiture’ at Karachi’s Art Chowk Gallery aims to highlight how an assorted group of Pakistani artists, seasoned as well as lesser known, use portraits as a multidimensional subject matter.While the exhibition has some striking works of art made by masters such as Saeed Akhtar, Mansur Salim, Moeen Faruqi, Mugheez Riaz and Mohammad Ali Bhatti whose credentials are beyond scrutiny, it is some of the younger artists who impress with their creativity and daring-do attitude. The attitude has more to do with the technique (paintings, cast busts, etc.) rather than content, for the content pivots around portraits. It is within that confine that they have to showcase their talent, and they have done that very well.

Akhtar’s oil on canvas tribute to some distinguished names, people that he has been fond of for quite some time, is a heartfelt effort. Needless to say the master’s firm and flowing strokes enhance the features of his subjects to an extent that they become larger than life characters. Perhaps they are.

Salim draws an oil on canvas picture of himself or probably of someone else. He always plays with the mind of the viewer. That’s not the point. The point is that while the body wearing a decent dress can be seen in the painting, the face is not there. It is typical Salim humour, a teaser of sorts.

Among the younger lot, Sara Khan, Salman Hasan and S. M. Raza impress with their willingness to experiment. Omar Farid’s artwork titled, ‘Self-portrait as a simpleton’ (acrylic on canvas) is more arty, yet relatable. Abdul Jabbar Gul’s sculpture too deals with the same topic, but in rather unequivocal terms. Good stuff.