New summer exhibition features nine senior artists
ISLAMABAD: The Summer Art Show, an exhibition featuring nine senior artists, opened in the capital on Saturday with 40 pieces on display.
The exhibition was held at the Nomad Art Gallery and featured the work of Syed Najamul Hassan Kazmi, Masood A. Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Ayesha Siddiqui, Riffat Khattak, Tabassum Rizvi and budding artists Komal Shahid and Shafique Farooqi.
Brazilian Ambassador Claudio Lins, who visited the exhibition, said: “Some of the artworks are very impressive and outstanding, made in the Pakistani tradition but with modern style, themes and colour.”
The works are true depictions of Pakistanis cultural diversity rooted in mysticism, particularly the Sufism series by Shafique Farooqui, Mr Lins said.
“Some of the art pieces are so impressive and outstanding that these should be placed in international galleries,” he remarked, and also praised Mr Kazmi’s latest women empowerment series.
Mr Kazmi has been doing miniature paintings – contemporary and traditional – since 1989, but has successfully experimented with contemporary themes, colour and mediums.
His latest giant miniature pieces depicting a woman carrying coffee baskets is very impressive as it juxtaposes the traditional with the modern, said gallery’s curator and director Nageen Hyat.
He spent 17 years in Srinagar and has been regularly exhibiting his work at Nomad for years. He has participated in solo and group exhibitions at home and abroad, and although his forte is miniature painting, he also works in papier-mâché, a Kashmiri art he promotes with a passion.