ISLAMABAD: Over the past decade, exceptional success stories of artists have emerged and so many of them as young graduates went on to win international accolades and fame.

This was said by Satrang Gallery’s Founder Asma Rashid Khan while speaking at the inauguration of a grand group exhibition titledA Decade,which showcased the works by 50 artists.

The show commemorated the gallery’s 10-year anniversary by honouring works of artists.

All featured artists have shown their work at the gallery in solo or group shows in the past decade. They include Aakif Suri, Affan Baghpati, Agha Jandan, Aisha Abid, Akram Dost Baloch, Ali Baba, Ali Saad, Amber Arifeen, Amra Khan, Anushka Rustomji, Aqeel Solangi, Atif Khan, Attiya Shaukat, Azanat Mansoor, Dua Abbas Rizvi, Faizan Naveed, Faizan Reidinger, Farazeh Sayed, Gea Karhoff, Ghulam Hussain, Ghulam Mohammad, Hammad Gillani, Hassan Sheikh, Heraa Khan, Imran Hunzai, Imrana Tanveer, Karim Ahmed, Mamoona Riaz, Marjan Baniasadi, Maryam Baniasadi, Mohsin Shafi, Mughees Riaz, Naazish Attaullah, Natasha Jozi, Natasha Malik, Nazir Hunzai, Nizakat Ali Depar, Onaiz Taji, Qadir Jhatial, Rabeya Jalil, Rahim Baloch, Ramzan Jafri, Saad Ahmed, Sabah Khan, Sahyr Sayed, Sana Zaidi, Sara Pagganwala, Saud Baloch, Shah Abdullah Alamee, Shiblee Munir, Sidra Asim, Sundas Azfer, Tahir Ali, Zahra Asim, Zahra Hussain and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Ms Khan said: “When I began the gallery, 10 years ago, with the unwavering support of Aziz Boolani, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Serena Hotels, I had very high hopes and a strong vision of a gallery dedicated towards emerging artists that celebrated their artistic prowess and individuality.”

As much a celebration of talent, the 10-year exhibition was also a celebration of relationships and the evolution of each exhibiting artist’s work before a familiar and new audience.

Zahra Khan, the curator, said: “A Decade exhibits the work of 50 of our artists, chosen by our entire team, past and present assistant curators. Honouring the artists we have worked with, the show highlights the transformation and change these artists have undergone, professionally, personally, and the evolution they have witnessed, within them or around them, over the last 10 years.”

Ghulam Hussain, an acclaimed graduate of the National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore, shows a single work, titled Composition with gold and silver, where he combined gold and silver leaf and charcoal powder on woven paper.

Speaking about his work, he said the original title of the work wasSiyah aur Safaid.

“The composition is rooted in my practice of miniature art, the application of gold and the washes. My current body of work is focused on shapes, geometric lines and spaces and continues to be based in the traditions of weaving, my familial craft,” he said.

Sara Pagganwala brought from Karachi two beautiful crystalline constructs of bismuth, granite and metal.

“I love culinary and I became intrigued with the idea of recreating my work with food. When I started working with sugar crystals I realised the possibilities are endless! I started growing crystals and now I’m working with metal crystals. The faceted morphology of the crystal mimics life – the edges of the hopper crystal are fully developed but the interior spaces are not filled in, always in flux, wanting to expand and explore,” Ms Pagganwala said.

Sundas Azfer’s work had transitioned quite dramatically from the figurative to patterns. The painting, Ritual Box, was made with organic indigo and pen on paper, and was based on her current interest in learning about the history of Islamic art and architecture, the symbols, semiotics and its standing in contemporary times.

The show will continue till the first week of May.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2022