Buoyant Assemblage

Dr. Jassim Taqui

An exhibition of paintings titled “Buoyant Assemblage” opened here on Saturday at Gallery 6. The exhibition is a group show of paintings by seven leading artists Abrar Ahmed, Athar Jamal, AS Rind, Ghulam Mustafa, Masood A. Khan, Shammi Ahmad and WahabJaffar. True to its title, the exhibition exudes cheerfulness and vibrancy, as on entering the hall one gets drowned in the unveiled beauty and veiled energy of colors unleashed by these prominent artists.

Abrar Ahmed has presented five paintings, 3 in different and 2 in his usual style of painting women with elements of romance and beauty. The images have faces of women that are highly stylized with elongated necks, expressive eyes and eloquent hands. Birds, the moon, musical instruments, jewelry are additional adorning features.

Use of vibrant colors in eloquent composition add to the aesthetics of his paintings.
Athar Jamal is an artist in the classic tradition. He is an exponent of spontaneous, on-spot painting and for years he has made a practice of moving around the country, sketching and painting people. landscapes and scenes from life.

He is renowned for the Thar series, in which he has documented the costumes, homes and customs of the Thar region that maintains the traditions of an ancient culture. His figure studies are dramatic renderings of shades and three paintings of Thari women are fascinating in this show.

AS Rindis also well-known for his distinctive style figurative work reflecting the faces and moods of the women, adorned elegantly with ethnic jewelry. His work carries a strong cultural influence of Rahim Yar Khan, his homeland.

In this exhibition, he has presented his iconic work with a different thick texture and also a non-decorative figurative abstraction, which is full of energy created by vibrant colors and bold strokes. This new vocabulary of expression is impressive and will draw the attention of the collectors.

Ghulam Mustafa belongs to the group of ‘plein-air’ painter and can paint anywhere without being disturbed by the hustle bustle of the surroundings.

He masters in capturing with immense details the magnificence of the sunlight and the shadows and shades created by it. Four paintings in the exhibitions that his eyes brilliantly seize the kaleidoscopic effects created by the sunlight whether he is walking in the interior of the walled city of Lahore, passing in lanes, admiring the blossoming trees or enjoying clear skies. He paints with details, making the viewer move into the focused spot – an ability which is the hallmark of a highly skilled and mature painter.

Masood A. Khan’s paintings have been unique in their comprehension and style of their execution. Whether it is a village scene, urban city areas or still life, he has been successful in accurately visualizing and capturing the lights and shades through all materialistic barriers, as if he has x-ray eyes. With transparent washes of acrylic paints and minimal lines of ink and charcoal, he creates brilliant multi-dimensional, serene paintings.With 3 works in his usual style, we see a stunning artwork done by him in grout – a totally different medium, which is a mixture of water, cement, sand, gravel, and colors. The appearance of artwork is like that of painted 3-dimensional rock, but it maintains the effect of transparency through different objects, so akin to the work of the artist.

Shammi Ahmad’s mentor has been the legendary painter Jamil Naqsh with whom she continues to seek guidance. Her four paintings in the exhibition are from her recent series of work of female portraits titled “Beauty is Eternal”. According to Marjorie Hussain, famous art critic, and writer, “these paintings muses on the links that bind the past to present times, imagining that people who lived centuries ago remain within us. Working with smooth strokes, she brushes color intensified by the approach to the medium and in the process nurturing an uncanny luminosity that creates an enigmatic aura of fantasy”.

WahabJaffar’sbold and adventurous style have a strong identity and his paintings exude a refreshing energy as he continues to simplify the female form or paint still life while exploring the richness of a full palette. His smooth lines, color coordination and balanced compositions render the image in a sharp and effective manner.His work maintains a strong identity yet remains inspired by his mentor Ahmed Parvez. F N Souza, the famous Indian artist once said ”There’s a very mysterious element in Wahab’s colors; you must look for it under veil after veil of vivid hues, Carnival, Revelry, Merrymaking. It’s Christmas in Wahab’s art! It’s joy! It’s a feast of light and color!”
This show will continue daily from 11 am to 7 pm till December 24 at Gallery 6