ISLAMABAD: Works reflecting the richness and beauty of the northern areas have been displayed at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

Paintings in the group show, titled The Golden Hour act as a window through which the viewer can see landscapes of Naran, Hunza, Passu and Babusar among others.

Curated and organised by the Nomad Gallery in collaboration with the PNCA, the exhibit was opened by Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood.

“I am not surprised to see such amazing artists as Pakistan has got enormous talent. What they need is an opportunity and enabling environment to exhibit their art,” he said, adding that it must have been amazing for all 15 painters to paint the landscapes while actually being in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The paintings are the outcome of an artists’ summer camp which was arranged by the administration of an art school in Peshawar.

Sajid Ali, who runs the school, said, “We arrange trips to various parts of the country, mostly to GB, where the artists feel the environs and paint them, take photographs and do paintings in studios as well.”

Senior artist and architect Naeem Pasha was in awe of the landscape paintings, textures, lines and combination of colours used.

Responding to a question, both Mr Ali and his wife Kiran dispelled the misperception about KP being an “orthodox anti-art” society. The presence of artists in such a large number in the province proves that the people of KP want peace and exhibit the message of love through their art, they said.

Senior landscape painters Ajab Khan and Tariq Mahmood agreed with Sajid’s views.

We arrange trips not only to northern regions but also to the southern port city of Pakistan. We contribute and bear all the cost from our own pocket, they said.

The works were viewed by a jury including veteran artist and art critics Quddus Mirza, Naeem Pasha and Nageen Hyat.

The first prize with Rs40,000 was given to Ajab Khan where as the second and third prizes with Rs20,000 each were given to Tahir Bilal Ummi and Sanobar respectively. Certificates of appreciation with Rs10,000 each were given to 12 other artists.

Mr Khan said the prizes belong to all artists as there is no competition among them.

The importance of contemporary art in Pakistan is difficult to measure and crucial to recognise, said Nageen Hyat, the curator and founding director of Nomad Gallery.

“Art can open our eyes to the intricacy and beauty of the natural world. It can simply be a painting that appreciates nature for what it is or it can be a challenging piece expressing our complex human connection to nature,” she said.

The summer camp is an annual programme for senior and emerging artists besides art lovers to gather, connect, practice and promote art.

Artists who participated in the programme include Ali Sajid, Arif Ansari, Ajab Khan, Tariq Mehmood, Bashir Haider, Sadia Arif, Shahzad Siyal, Danish Khan, Shaima Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Faruq Siyal, Abid Zaman, Qazi Amanullah, Sanober, and Tahir Bilal.

The show will continue till Jan 10 from 11am to 5pm (except Saturdays).

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2022