KARACHI: Water has always been a potent symbol for artists and writers. If on the one hand it can symbolise irrationality, on the other hand poet and critic T.S. Eliot in his masterpiece The Wasteland has a section called ‘Death by Water’ in which he implies that such a departure allows his character to leave behind his worldly woes. An exhibition titled Beyond the Waters, curated by Amra Ali, which is under way at the Koel Art Gallery works on a similar line, in the sense, that it is layered with symbolism.

To have some clarity let’s first see what Amra has to say about the genesis of the show: “The subject of water came about organically to hold the diversity in the narratives of the seven invited artists. The title came as conversations progressed between the artists and me, in some cases, much before the exhibition was visualised, revealing possibilities into multiple readings of water as physical point of reference and also as metaphor that was embedded in some way in each of the artists’ narratives.”

The curator then talks about the issue of considering the theme in a coherent way. “Rasheed Araeen’s complex narrative provided inspiration as well as relevance to our theme. …”

That’s it. Now Rasheed sahib is a formidable senior artist, and having him as the inspiration is reason enough to view the artworks on display. But the other participating artists do a great job too, which, in a certain cute way, adds more versatility and meaning to the show.

First things first though: Rasheed sahib pays a lovely tribute to Karachi mentioning the city’s Native Jetty Bridge, Frere Hall and the Keamari area in his statement that have enabled the viewer to see water as a route to the past that is now yearned for by those who have experienced (or heard of) the city’s glorious days. The series ‘Boats of Keamari’ (ink and watercolour) is a delightful example. Mind you, it’s a celebration of the days gone by because the boats that he has created have a character, a personality that’s not crestfallen at all. The personification, albeit imperceptible, which is a backhanded symbol if you like, is something that only a creator with both immense talent and a wealth of experience can come up with.

Sohail Zuberi takes the theme forward with a sharp comment on the times we live in and the time that’s to come. His piece ‘Archaeologies of Tomorrow: Horri Boats’ (found shims, MDF board, paint) indicates to the viewer how artists perceive a whole world in a tiny object. The artist says he has been collecting shims –– wooden edges used as a tool in boat building –– on his walks on the beach for a decade. Horri is a local fishing boat. Looking at his artwork will make the viewer understand the significance of seemingly insignificant objects in our lives. And yet, the word ‘archaeologies’ imparts a pensive touch to the exercise, for it suggests the past –– the past that is the present of the future.

The other artists, who are equally impressive, taking part in the show are: Noor Ali Chagani, Farrukh Adnan, Zeerak Ahmed, Noorjehan Bilgrami and Usman Saeed.

The show concludes on Nov 21.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019