KARACHI: It is such a delight to visit Art Chowk Gallery these days where an exhibition of prints titled Chashm-i-Baddoor is under way. Why does one claim that? Answer: because there’s much to marvel at in the show in terms of variety of subjects, keeping in mind the singularity of the medium used.

There are 17 artists whose works are on view. Let’s just talk about a few of their works. It all begins with the emotive mono-prints in which children are highlighted. These young ones lack exposure to the world, as is evident from their facial expressions, which can help them go places, literally and figuratively. The black and white images add poignancy to the artist’s message.

There are other black and white images which, in terms of subject matter, are different from the opening sequence. They’re equally noteworthy. But the pieces that are done in a nonlinear or abstract way with splashes of colour are no less striking. They signify the versatility of ideas under one roof. That’s not it: the artists also have their distinct sense of stylised artworks. This means they know how to strike a balance between form and content. Isn’t that a good sign for Pakistani art?

The curatorial statement provided by the organisers of the show which will conclude on Nov 30 reads, “A phrase commonly used to ward off evil from envious persons (including oneself) Chashme Baddoor opens itself to countless interpretations in this unique show of prints. Curiously, this phrase is used in many contexts; both as a blessing and a prayer, as well as a form of sarcasm; thereby lending itself as an umbrella under which varied modes of printmaking and insights are offered by these 17 artists.”

To be honest, in the case of the exhibition, it’s more of a blessing than anything else. The names of the participating artists are: Abdul Musawir, Sahar Ansari, Amal Nadeem, Sonya Sarki, Imran Ahmad, Muhammad Abrar, Fatima Saeed, Jawaria Nawaz, Hussnain Awais, Bismah Hayat, Shehbaz Jaskani, Naveed Majid, Hafsa Riaz, Abdul Ali Hyder, Bilal Khalid, Saad Ahmad and Rija Kashif.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2020