LAHORE: Two art shows opened in the city on Friday in two art galleries.

A group show titled ‘Musings of a Deserted Mind’ opened at Ejaz Art Gallery and a solo exhibition by artist Samra Cheema titled ‘Transmuting Beings’ began at ArtSoch Gallery.

Ms Cheema while elaborating the basic concept of her work said, “All the metaphysical and theological perceptions of human consciousness illustrate the mystic and unsolved puzzles of human existence and the universe itself. I have made symbolical use of bodies to hint at the common ancestral soul as humans are the only species on earth who possess a segment of God’s soul. The theme expresses the core consciousness of all souls that share a common set of feelings and emotions whereas, the transcendental expression of corals is depicting the hues that reside inside the body, love, joy, peace and soul.” The show will remain on till Nov 5.

The group show at Ejaz Gallery features the works of six artists Bazil Habib, Buland Iqbal, Erum Akhtar, Mahwish Shaukat, Hifza Khan and Meerab Rehmat. The show was curated by Mahnoor. Participating artists gave their views on their respective works.

Hifza Khan says about her work, “Our society is segregated into obvious three sections - upper, middle, and lower class. Through my work, I’m only trying to expose this bitter reality”.

Meerab Rehmat says, “I always start a work of art having a human figure in mind, a composition of different body parts. However, mostly I use hands and facial features to express emotion and expressions. My present work is a mere depiction of a forcible process to not let others go, which get us away from an eternal comfort.”

Mahwish Shaukat says she always starts a work of art with a female figure or face at its core. “In today’s digital age, I constantly come across images that intrigue me or that I can relate to in some way. These become the starting points of my works. These drawings have become the medium through which I’m developing a better understanding of myself and the world around me. They are my catharsis.”

To Buland Iqbal, his work is an elaborated statement on the imperfection, vulnerabilities, and fragilities that characterize human existence.

Bazil Habib says the use of overlaying windows, steps and spaces in his paintings has a metaphorical significance to a subject’s state of mind. My inspiration for this minimalistic abstract approach with flat, sharp and precise geometrical compositions comes from an art movement of the 1920s, Precissionism.

Erum Akhtar’s work revolves around various enticing activities in our surroundings, which we contently judge others for, being forgetful of the fact that we can be sinners too.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2021