KARACHI, May 22: Artworks by no fewer than 22 known artists are on display at the Koel Art Gallery. The exhibition titled ‘Summerscape 2013’ began at the Koel Art Gallery on Tuesday. Since it’s that time of year when art activities slow down, as even gallery owners and curators need a break, the show will last till July 27.

It is interesting that the first exhibit belongs to Madiha Sikandar and it’s called ‘Roses are Red’ (gadrang on paper). It is likely that the artist had the famous line from an Urdu ghazal ‘jis tarha sookhe huay phool kitabon mein milein’ on her mind when she set out to do this piece. Conceptually, the exhibit is out of the ordinary.

Laila Rehman is there with her text-based etching-and-aquatint work inspired by references that one finds in holy books. The one called ‘The greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night’ intelligently uses the metaphor of light in the spiritual framework and places it in modern-day context.

Naiza Khan impresses the viewer with her ‘Counter Balance’ exhibits (screen print on paper). Making architecture as her reference point, she nicely juxtaposes it with the aesthetic chaos that one witnesses in society on a regular basis. Her work is top-notch both in terms of technique and content.

Masood A. Khan shifts the mood of the exhibition to tranquil environments. His ‘Mera Ghar’ and ‘Wazoo’ (acrylic on paper) touches on that less diluted aspects of life that one doesn’t often see in an urban setting. The lightness of the strokes creates a tranquil effect that is necessary for such a depiction.

Ussman Ghouri’s mixed media piece perceptively employs the potent symbol of fish accompanied by text (read: letters). There is so much happening in a single artwork yet the clarity of thought is not compromised.

Amean J. captures a park portion of a zoo and highlights its condition by virtue of an insightful black and white image. The desolateness of the locale is haunting.

Mussarrat Miza’s blurry abstractions (oil on canvas) are always a treat to watch. The artist has a gift of making ambiguity look beautiful.