ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: An exhibition of paintings by three young female artists will open at the Nomad Art Gallery on Thursday.

In a stunning array of miniatures, figure paintings and commanding symbolism are the gentle reflections of the three artists.

Sana Arjumand’s compositions pull you into her artwork where she questions, celebrates and makes endeavours to figure out a good balance between religion, culture and expectations. Revisiting her roots, she brings a concentration of powerful drawings that seem to capture the moods of tension and repose that occur in the lives of the younger generation.

The National College of Arts (NCA) graduate works in oil and acrylic paints. Deep tones that emphasise the optical effects of colour and powerful expressions and the body language of her figures make up magnificent compositions.

“I started off with the painting images of Quaid-i-Azam. And then grew fond of painting the national flag,” Sana said, adding that she painted the flag because she was in search of her identity.

Through her paintings, Sana invites the younger generation to go back to their roots in the prevailing confusion over whether they should adhere to the principles and values of their ancestors or adopt the modern trends. “The fight for identity is not lost. I found my roots in the crescent and the star in the Pakistani flag,” she said.

Rejecting minor issues of minority and majority, Sana cut away the white portion of the flag in her composition titled “I am flexible, are you? “

Let’s talk about the real problem of recognising our identity, she said, explaining her work.

Fine Arts student Shahzeb Ahmad specialised in still life in oil and has recently taken up drawing female nude forms, very cleverly distorting the contours and curves. In her skillfully executed black and white drawings, a red apple gives deep meaning to emotional power and storytelling potential in her work.

“Don’t ask me why, but I love to paint the red apple because it gives reason to my symbolic work. Meanings change when I change the placement of the apple in my drawings. For example, in my composition titled “Mano” the apple rests on the nude’s belly which symbolises her longing for a man she loves. It would have meant temptation if she was holding it in her hand as if offering it.”

Now what symbolises satisfaction? Where a woman had everything and questioned what next was coming her way, Shahzeb said.

Talented and innovative Lahore based Samreen Asghar brings her miniature works in water colours. Her artwork at the Gallery is inspired by musical ragas. Thaat was a basic scale of a classical music depicted in the portrait of a woman, she said, and Raaga Khamaj depicts the spring season.

Bringing together the best of old world technique and progressive colour theories the white birds and texture, the movement and flow and the female figures were a blend of Chinese, Persian and Mughal art.