Art enthusiasts have followed with interest the exhibitions of two distinguished painters based in Lahore, Hasnat Mehmood and Ahmed Ali Manganhar. These unique contemporary internationally acclaimed artists have shown their work throughout the country. With the announcement that Mehmood and Manganhar were to show their work together at the Canvas Gallery, Karachi, began an exciting new year of art happenings in the city.

Mehmood is a versatile artist who studied miniature art and now works with installation, conceptual art and has exhibited drawings as part of his expression. One remembers the exquisite miniature books shown in Karachi on a previous occasion when the artist asked friends for the names of inspiring people of the arts. Based on these names colourful, miniature books were created and arranged on shelves.

Mehmood’s work in this exhibition was collectively titled: ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. “This body of work has come out of my recent endeavours with truck art and graffiti. So these works can be taken as sign boards that can be placed outside,” explains the artist.

Mehmood's display began at the gates of the gallery, where two yellow plexiglass surfaces carried images of armed guards. The plexiglass media continued on the wall outside the gallery where ‘Facebook Ads’ series offered advice of a masculine nature.

Entering the gallery one found the artist paying homage to stars of yesterday with the colourful quartette of images of a youthful Madam Noor Jehan, reflecting cinema hoardings worked with acrylic spray paint on paper. Actress Babra Sharif was nostalgically portrayed and remembering the first pop singers of the 1980s, he doffed his cap to Nazia and Zohaib with their Disco Diwaney music.

Using guns as a symbol of contemporary pop culture, the artist gave the weapons a decorative flourish; while based on plexiglass, cans of beer were set against traditional, decorative designs. Mehmood, whose work is included in the British Museum London, and Fukuoka Museum, Japan, is an artist of great élan and versatility often touched by irony.

Manganhar who hails from Tando Allahyar, Sindh, now lives and practices his art in Lahore. In common with several of the country’s most eminent artists of our times, he began his art edification watching painters of large cinema bill boards at work and linked to viewing the actual films shown, began his interest in the possibilities of colour. His art in exhibition is animated by diverse encounters between the real and the imaginary with a layered technique that leads the viewer on a journey of exotic juxtapositions. The artist’s colourful and fluid use of his media creates surfaces on which so much is taking place.

‘Taking the Plunge’ has figures diving, an indistinct figure about to dive and, it appears, the face of photographer Cindy Sherman in the foreground. Beyond the action a sun-filled scenario is suggested seen through dark trees.

One discovers numerous figurative suggestions including ‘Mona Liza’, a recognisable Picasso, and the painting titled, ‘Interior of separation’ which appears to be riotous animals.

‘Whispering forest’ is a delight of layered imagery, light and shade graphically combined with visual appeal. ‘The Tribute to Mohsin Manganhar’ holds personal references and symbols in a dream like vision; while the ‘Icon of modernity’ pays homage to Duchamp and the painting he signed R.Mutt. Manganhar’s work is an ideal narrative with abstract motifs, lines nuances of text, crosshatches, and spirals. It is, in fact, a celebration of imagination, memories and dreams.