ISLAMABAD: An exhibition featuring the work of poet and artist Ahmed Habib was inaugurated by the Austrian ambassador on Saturday.

Titled Aayiney, the Nomad Gallery exhibition was a self-reflection on relationships, inner conflicts and emotional attachment to personal belongings. It was also followed by a short documentary on the artist’s work.

A multi-talented artist, Mr Habib paints in water, oil and charcoal, makes sculptures, teaches and restores artwork.

“Ahmad is a versatile artist, a teacher, poet and actor. He has created a unique style of collage using personal belongings and worn-out items in the Picassian tradition,” commented Ambassador Brigitta Blaha.

The artwork is a window to the artist’s life, a mirror of his past and expression of his emotional attachment with personal belongings and the memories attached with certain moments of his life, she said.

“He has created riches from rags in a unique and inspiring narrative,” commented Nageen Hyat, the curator and director of the gallery.

Used fabric plays a pivotal role in creating rich, but sensuous surfaces as the textures absorb your senses in creativity and poetic nuances while words play hide and seek as in the approach of a bridge to cross over to fertile ground and imagination, she said.

Mr Habib believes in self-reflection on relationships not only with other human beings but also with non-living objects around him which have been in his personal use. For instance in the embossed butterflies he has used ragged pieces of worn-out clothes, buttons and wires, to capture fond memories and precious moments associated with them.

In the giant painting ‘Heart of Sun and Moon Temple and Goodbye Blue Sky’ in acrylic on canvas he has used bright colours to express strong emotions.

Speaking to Dawn about his new experimental work in mixed media, he said it was something new and certainly a gamble that he had been yearning to do for a long time.

“I am a nomadic person in nature always in search of my inner self, reality and new horizons in art to express my feelings,” Mr Habib said.

“These paintings are the heart and soul of my past, full of predicaments, failures and my idiosyncrasies, which can play mirrors to many,” he added.

He explained: “I have used my personal belongings as mirrors into my soul. I believe that humans too can develop an emotional relationship with non-living things such as old and worn-out clothes as they are the windows into our past.”

These objects have imprints on them; our fragrances, joys and sorrows and they can take you back on a down your fading memory lane, he said.

“My art revolves around my own orbit, spreads around my space and objects,” said Mr Habib.

Mr Habib is the author of two books, a collection of short stories and more works that are currently under process. He has also directed and acted in plays, and participated in 10 solo and 28 group art exhibitions since 1995.

He has exhibited in the country and abroad and won several awards and accolades. He also donated his artwork to Hunerkada and Nomad for earthquake-affected people, and has conducted art therapy workshops for flood-affected children in Sindh and on violence against women.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018