An exhibition of watercolour paintings shown at the Artscene gallery marked the finale of the ‘1st Travelling International Watercolour Biennale’ that began at the Centre of Excellence in Art and Design (CEAD), Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (Jamshoro) in March 2016.

Ali Abbas Syed curated the exhibition. He is the winner of the Watercolour Biennale held in Spain in 2015 and the country head of the International Watercolour Society in Pakistan. As an artiste, he has participated in numerous events of the IWS abroad, and he was instrumental in organising the Biennale held in Jamshoro. To mark the occasion, an artist’s workshop was arranged and several members of the International Watercolour Society from different countries participated along with artists from Pakistan, and enjoyed visiting the historic sights of Sindh.

The art of watercolour painting has a long and fascinating history that has come down to us through the centuries. It was used in ancient Egypt and Eastern countries with beautiful results, and was compared by Giorgio Vasari to fresco painting that demanded a hand that was ‘dexterous, resolute and rapid’.

As a part of the ‘First Travelling International Watercolour Biennale’ the Artscene Gallery recently exhibited 271 paintings from 89 countries from around the world

It is a medium that requires rapid and free handling for once the colour has been applied and resolved by the ground, the watercolourist, like the fresco painter, cannot change his work except by superimposing the errors with solid pigments.

In Karachi, a watercolour landscape movement began in 1965, initiated by Mansur Rahi at the Karachi School of Art.

The exhibition was shown previously in Islamabad. The founder and president of the International Watercolour Society Mr Atanur Dogan presented lifetime achievement awards to Ghalib Baqar and Qudsia Nisar. Mr Dogan flew in from Canada to participate in the event.

At the Artscene Gallery in Karachi the exhibition titled ‘Pearls of Peace through watercolour’ consisted of 271 paintings from 89 countries. They were arranged throughout the ground floor and upper galleries, thus managing to give space to each artwork. A large, appreciative audience of art enthusiasts and representatives of the media attended the show with interest, enjoying the beautiful paintings from so many parts of the world.

On view were landscapes, portraits, seascapes, still life, places and people from diverse backgrounds, abstract artworks and calligraphy. A joyous array of colors blended beautifully with sweeping strokes and undulating lines.

One was intrigued by the differences in styles, the beautiful textural elements of the work and the subjects relating to countries of origin.

One was introduced to flower sellers of China, fishing boats from France and a gay line of colorful washing from Ghana. In France a lovely young woman walked through rain carrying a red umbrella whereas in Sindh, Sufis gathered and the abstraction of Qudsia’s paintings made a strong statement.

There were regrets among the audience that the paintings were for exhibition only. As Sayed explained, they will now be sent back to the artists for further exhibitions that are in the pipeline. Ali Abbas spoke of further IWS exhibitions that were to take place in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Nepal and Iran, and his participation in an exhibition of paintings to be shown in Italy in December.

It was encouraging to view artists interacting from around the world which no doubt is an embodiment of ‘pearls of peace’.

The ‘First Travelling International Watercolor Biennale’ was exhibited at the Artscene Gallery, Karachi from August 10 till August 13, 2016

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, August 4th, 2016