KARACHI: A three-day exhibition of Faiza Bilgrami’s paintings titled The Harbinger concluded at the Artciti Gallery on Saturday.

One thinks that the artist has carefully chosen the name for the show, The Harbinger, because usually the word is followed by another noun, such as the harbinger of doom or happiness. Bilgrami has left it to the imagination of the viewer to come up with their understanding of what’s to come. There should not be any head-scratching here. The artist has given ample clues to allow art lovers to know what she wants to accomplish with her artworks.

First of all, her fine use of colours is evident. The paintings on view — whether they are made in mixed media on paper or oil on paper, acrylic on canvas or tar coal on canvas — have a variety of shades and hues that underline how she sees life: as a riot of colour.

Secondly, it’s her affinity with nature that comes to the fore with a great deal of conviction. This is something that needs to be commended as in this day and age where conceptual and performing art is taking over in a big way her respect for the munificence of all things natural is noteworthy. As a result, the viewer gets to engage in some warm and verdant landscapes that spring words such as ‘pristine’ and ‘tranquil’ to mind.

Faiza Bilgrami’s The Harbinger concludes

Thirdly, Bilgrami’s knows the significance of art. In her introduction provided by the gallery to visitors, it’s written that she sees art in every aspect which is why she loves to paint in her free time. Now she may does that in her ‘free time’, the alacrity with which she seems to do it indicates that she values creativity.

The exhibition in a convincing manner brings together the above-mentioned three factors.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2023