KARACHI, April 13: One of the complaints that you get to hear about the world of art is that it is not readily accessible to all and sundry.
This also means that more often than not the prices at which artworks are sold (if sold at all) are a little heavy on the pocket(s) of those who are genuinely interested in them but cannot afford to cough up a hefty amount of money.
Well, thankfully sometimes some individuals or institutions wake up to that reality and try to make art reachable for all its aficionados. The two-day Jumma Hafta Art Bazaar that began at T2F on Friday is meant to serve that purpose.
On the one hand the bazaar has works of some prominent and some not-so-prominent painters, sculptors and potters, and on the other hand it functions as a place for artists and art buffs to meet up, discuss and buy exhibits on display at affordable prices.
Raania Azam Khan Durrani is a known potter. Her treatment of terracotta is indicative of her genuine effort in studying the human condition. The symbolism she employs is simple, which makes it easier for the viewer to receive her message.
Faraz Abdul Mateen seems to be aware of what ‘clay’ stands for. So instead of using the material as a metaphor for the whole body, he tries to peruse only the face. The faces that he’s able to create, despite varying in shape, give the vibe as if all of them have a connection. This does not imply that he is aiming for a Larnaean Hydra effect in an artistic way. It is more like an examination of facial expressions.
Noman Siddiqui’s terracotta apples have a very earthy feel to them, which is wonderful.
Shamira Mahpara pleasantly surprises visitors with her mixed-media-on-canvas work. Her use of dense, natural strokes and loud colours give a fair idea to the viewer as to how intense the artist’s work is.
Sarah Bakhtiyar’s exhibits too are worth taking note of, primarily because of the plainness of concepts.
But it is Fatima Zaidi’s eye-catching drawings which take the bazaar to the next level of artistic sensibilities. She seems to be one of those artists who work with complete abandon and listen to their heart at the cost of ignoring their mind.
