ISLAMABAD: Satrang Gallery hosted an exhibition titled ‘Private Mythologies’ which brought together the works of Pakistan’s 10 most respected artists.

The show was curated by well known art critic Aasim Akhtar and included works of Salima Hashmi, Naazish Ataullah, Afshar Malik, Anwar Saeed, Quddus Mirza, Mansoora Hassan, Noorjehan Bilgrami, Shireen Kamran, Meher Afroz and Nahid Raza.

Aasim Akhtar said the exhibition was a wonderful example of curatorial polyphony.

He said: “Polyphony in music is the flowing together of multiple voices, independent melodies woven into counterpoint. I have tried to internalise the need to create a situation that is receptive to complex spaces combining the big and small, the old and new, noise and silence.”

Art critic Salma Hashmi inaugurated the exhibition and praised Aasim Akhtar for the show. She said: “I am amazed by the artists Aasim has brought together as they are all very particular about where, how and when their work is displayed. The fact that he has brought the 10 of us together tells us about his excellent powers of persuasion.”

She said Pakistani contemporary art was among the best in the world and Pakistani audience was blissfully unaware of this.

Ms Hashmi said three institutions — NCA, Indus Valley School of Art and BNU — produced the bulk of artwork which art critics and collectors across the world recognised as “tremendous, energetic, vibrant and truly excellent work”.

She said: “While the news from Pakistan is often dark, the accolades our artists, musicians and writers receive tell us that our people are very much alive. Creativity flourishes in darkness.”

Salima Hashmi’s paintings were from two of her series. One of the series was created after witnessing the destruction of the October 2005 earthquake. It is a reaction to the wreckage, the relief efforts and the vulnerability and resilience of people. The other series was painted after the destruction of Bamyan Buddhas.

Asma Rashid Khan, who is director of Satrang Gallery, said: “Many of these celebrated artists have been pioneers of the contemporary art movement in the country.”

She said the Satrang Gallery has hosted more than 300 artists in more than 40 exhibitions. They have organised competitions, charity exhibitions and book launches. It holds an annual artist talk where esteemed curators, artists and art historians speak with collectors and guests.

Ambassador of Argentina Rodolfo Martin Saravia said he was always delighted to attend exhibitions which “bring Pakistanis who like to see and buy artwork and the artists who produce those artworks together”.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play