Few things are more calming and pleasant than strolling through an art gallery and viewing the work on display. Throughout the country there are galleries welcoming visitors to view work produced in diverse media and subjects and in Karachi one reflects on how far the city has travelled in terms of art happenings since the days that Zubeida Agha had her first solo exhibition in 1949 at the YMCA.

Recently an exhibition of the work of 50 artists from across the country heralded the reopening of the restructured and relocated Clifton Art Gallery, Karachi. The gallery that originally opened in 1991, has through the years acquired a fine private collection from artists such as Colin David, who mounted his last three exhibitions there, Ahmed Khan, Ahmed Parvez, Gulgee and others of their ilk and examples of these were included along with the latest work of those who came later on the scene.

Viewing such an extensive exhibition is a challenging visual experience but the gallery had ample space and light to do justice to each and every artwork and the art acted as a balm to the stress induced by the hectic pace of life today.

One looks back on the tremendous surprise felt by the Pakistan National Council of Arts organisers (in the days when they were involved in promoting art) in 2003, when the first sculpture exhibition was held at the Alhamra Cultural Complex Lahore. The work came pouring in from all over the country and the large cultural complex was filled with three-dimensional works in diverse styles and media, comprising wood, metal, plaster and stone. It was a humbling experience to view the work created from a passion to express an inner vision without encouragement or support of any kind.

This 50 artists’ show is a classic case of being spoilt for choice

The Clifton Art Gallery showed the traditional genres of art worked in diverse media and individual styles; with stunning modern calligraphy contributed by Ahmed Khan, Ashgar Ali and Mussarat Arif. Mona Naqsh was represented by ‘still life’, with a difference, while Mashkoor Raza’s figurative abstraction in beautifully blended colours and the joyful colouration of Wahab Jaffer’s painting made an intriguing contrast to the tradition of delicately rendered miniature art of Ustad Bashir Ahmed.

The detailed art worked by miniaturists Waseem Ahmed, Khalid Saeed Butt and M.F. Shahid Zaki were absorbing and Rahat Naveed’s landscapes with clouds threatening a grassy aspect were so realistic, that one felt like touching the marvellously rendered pastel on paper artwork. Hajra Mansur, Sadaf Naeem, Qudsia Nisar and Nahid Raza also made their presence felt.

Najmi Sura was represented by a painting in her own inimitable style, while the work of Ali Abbas and Athar Jamal transported the viewer to the world of the interior. Sculpture was contributed by the first lady of sculpture in the country, Rabia Zuberi, and the widely appreciated contemporary sculptors Amin Gulgee and Abdul Jabbar Gull.

Viewing the work of Ali Azmat, one may understand what an inspiration he has been to a younger generation of artists, while one longed to enter the landscape with sky that was the work of Mughees Riaz.

The beauty of the Punjab landscape was recognisable in paintings by Ghulam Mustafa, Zulqarnain Haider and Karachi’s cityscape by Hanif Shazad. Ideally the work of each artist deserves a lengthy discourse but with lack of space one can but suggest art enthusiasts visit the show for themselves.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, June 8th, 2014