ISLAMABAD: The first physical exhibition of artworks by over 40 artists opened at Gallery 6 on Friday after a lockdown of over two years since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Out of 82 paintings of the participating artists of the biennial Arjumand Painting Award, 44 are now being exhibited under the series ‘Onrshing-5’.

The award ceremony of the biennial national art event was held at Alhamra Arts Centre, Lahore last month.

Looking at the artworks done in different media, one can feel awe by the bold themes, strokes, variation, variety, aesthetics and sophistication representing very interesting emerging art forms.

The emerging talented artists seem connected to their culture, soil, environment and international milieu in a deep way that is what makes good art. So there is not one story, but many tales.

Even though the exhibition does not include the three award-winning and merit prize-winning paintings by Karim Ahmed, Khadija Saeed Akhtar and Imran Ali, it has a lot to offer.

Ahsan Javaid’s Summer Scape that won the third prize has a distinctively creative composition and is noticeable for its quality execution. Merit prize winners Ahsan Memon’s Insomniais simply phenomenal, while Sana Iqbal’s Mandir engages the viewer with details of its elements and their presentation.

The paintings by Amra Khan and Aun Raza discuss gender issues boldly, while Nazrul Islam’s Black in White highlights racial disparity. Still-life by Fahima Bashir, Hafsah Sarfraz and Nashrah Raza are enticing. Fawad Jafri’s abstract creates illusions while Rida Nadeem’s is soothing and serene.

The landscapes by Aqiq Ehsan, Faiza Taufiq, Mansab Dar and Wajid Daharkiwala have a variety of presentations from realistic to surrealistic forms and take the viewers into different zones.

Miniature works by Ali Gillani, Rahman Zada and Rabia Saleem are distinct by their presentations and exhibit their potential of becoming established artists soon.

Innocence by Adnan Khan is somewhat pointillistic style and the Half-Hearted Smile by Zainab Aziz, both in the black palette, is alluring. Sana Dar’s Method in the Madnessis very delicate work and different from her previous work, while Asghar Ali’s portrait of an old Hazara community woman Last Layer is very similar in execution to the man’s portrait that won him a merit prize in 2019.

Komal Jabeen, Mariam Arshad, Meerab Rehmat, Fakhra Asif and Naseeb Khan have highlighted feminism in a variety of absorbing ways.

Alefiya Abbas, Asiya Alisannia, Awais Naqvi, Feroza, Manisha Jiani, Mariam Shaikh, Sanaullah, Shakir Adnan, Sannia Bilal, Sarah Mir, Qiraat Soomro, Umna Laraib, Urhamish Ansari, Wajiha Batool and Zehra Fatima have done paintings on different themes.

Talking to Dawn about the purpose of initiating the award, Dr Arjumand Faisel, owner and founder of the award, said: “One of the visions has been to establish a reputable national award to recognise and give a head start to outstanding emerging painters of 25 to 40 years of age who exhibit outstanding abilities and distinguished talent in painting.”

This is the first-ever art award by any private gallery at the national level, which presents a cash prize since its inception in 2015. It fills the void for appreciation and recognition of emerging outstanding painters aptly, he added.

About the response of the artists, Dr Arjumand, an established artist in his own right and philanthropist, said it was overwhelming.

“We received 192 entries. Out of these 82 were selected for the exhibition and presented to the judges. The process of judgement is unique and has been designed to minimise biases. Even the judges do not know the winners till the computer generates the result of their scoring done individually without any consultation with any other jury member.

The winners were Karim Ahmed first prize (Rs300,000), Khadija Saeed Akhtar, second prize (Rs200,000), Ahsan Javaid third prize (Rs100,000). Ahsan Memon, Sana Iqbal and Imran Ali won merit prizes of Rs50,000 each.

Discussing the awards, Usama Arjumand, the Director of Gallery 6, said: “We have been able to bring to limelight several artists of high caliber with skillful painterly qualities and have given them a head start, which is satisfying.”

The exhibition will remain open till August 13 (except Saturday and Sunday) from 11am to 7pm.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2021