ART FACTS: A lifetime experience

Now artists all over the world became mobile and no longer restricted to their countries. They become restless in search of new stimulus and ideas around the globe. There are few events that give them this opportunity and The International Art Expo Malaysia (AEM) is one of them.
The AEM is a big event with a mission to collect some of the finest creative efforts from all over the world in Kuala Lumpur , thus trying to offer audience one Art world. It is a broad canvas that provides a chance to artists' world over to present their colourful cultures, life styles, landscapes and people through their paintings. Recently a group show of artists at Artscene Galleries, Karachi give art enthusiasts an opportunity to witness the artworks of those artists who represent our country at AEM.
"The International Art Expo Malaysia is a platform for creative people to express their ideas in any form of the visual arts. It also provides the opportunity for the exchange of ideas with contemporary senior artists and contributes to have a positive impact on the art scene of participating countries. Therefore we thought that our local audience should also experience that same good moments which our artists have experienced abroad," said Shahzad Saeed, director Artscene Gallery, while giving an account of the event to me.
Formerly the Ejaz Art Gallery, Lahore continuing its tradition presents these Pakistani artists at the International Art Expo Malaysia (AEM), 2010. The artists include Ahmed Khan, Saeed Akhtar, R M Naeem, Mansoor Rahi, Jamil Baloch, Mudassar Manzoor, Ishitaq Sandhu, Irfan Hassan and Ali Azmat.
Ahmed Khan's work has evolved through time and his own experience, his work at the exhibition show a prolific exploration of not only his original technique but also philosophical insights of oneness of God and peace. Each line seems to be meticulously thought out and skilfully placed. Nothing in his work seems like a random scribbling, in fact there is methodical disarray in his work.
Ahmed's calligraphy has a unique quality to it. At the same time it is compositionally very controlled. His use of colours is bold and his strokes are gestured and free flowing. His work is non representational. He has used calligraphic strokes and colours in an esthetical manner and he has also balanced the composition thoughtfully. One such example is the manner in which he has placed a dark and a completely contrasting environment together. The symmetry in the compositions is remarkable.
Saeed Akhtar's mastery over his technique takes from his persistent ability to mould his line work according to his wish. Like every major artist, his subject matter kept on changing over the decades. Portraiture becomes his forte as he renders his models as sculpted personalities with smooth flesh, rich textures and sensuality. Akhtar's inimitable figurative art always has had an element of idealisation, which he imparts to all his work. His current concerns expressed at the venue were the appreciation of beauty imbibed in him which he portrayed in female figures. The virtue of a keen observation leads him to the realism in his art. His self portraits are as fresh as he is.
Fragmented forms and symbols appear in the artworks of R M Naeem interpreting his personal experiences in strong colours and sharp forms. His paintings are intentionally thought provoking having juxtaposed significant motifs such as paper boats and airplanes reminding of his childhood days. He relates religion in his symbols the bald headed figures represents human beings without the differentiation of gender. He wants to convey a message of peace and harmony among all humanity without considering any cast, creed or religion, a human race that is connected to one another by a sense of belonging, a philosophy of being in this degenerated world.
Recipient of many national and international awards including Pride of Performance Mansur Rahi is the leading abstractionist painter was one of the artists presenting Pakistan. He has influenced many upcoming prominent artists and taught them also. As usual following his traditional unique style Rahi's paintings are done within a restricted range of colours, his work is never too brightly colourful. There are always dark shadows behind bright colours. The colour application became more free and impressionistic along time. The colours flow without hard boundaries on his canvas but there is a nominal subject like a puzzle in the painting. He combined the monumental phase and the cubist phase in his paintings. He uses geometrical shapes bounded by straight lines or curves. There is also a particularly rhythmic element which is so important in his work. And of course this style of painting is authentically his own.
The contemporary miniature paintings by Mudassar Manzoor engages viewer through its synchronising dynamic compositions, colour tones and textures. His paintings combine realism and expressionism carrying the enigma of existence, both on the real and ideal levels. He highlights both the revealed and hidden social situation of common people.
His combination of traditional medium with new modern media captures the inner character and personality of people. He defines and discover the human psyche related to social behaviours symbolising in a form of a feminine figure in white and white clouds and white spaces all giving a mystic touch to his work. Using gouache on wasli he creates images with strong impulse showing different sides of culture in a society from soft to rigid.
The ambience of Jamil Baloch's artworks show concerns about people and their surroundings. He seems to appreciate the beauty around us. In this show he displayed his paintings although he is a sculptor also which has always been helped him in his painting experience. He is much influenced by his local environment which can be clearly seen in his works. He explores diverse media and variety of themes related to common man.
Lonely women portrayed by Ishtiaq Sandhu are simply an expression of praise that he finds in a human form. His work is a depiction of soft moments of life which we live alone full of emotions whether good or bad trying to expose ourselves.
Irfan Hasan like to portray cultural setting our day to day social behaviour, our existence, destination and beginning all fascinates him and he is still finding answers to these questions through his paintings. Ali Azmat's paintings depict different moods of persons seem unfit in our society with bright colours catching attention of the viewers. His works has white and grey areas placed separately along with dark hues. He does not give much importance to the drawing, but prefers to paint the real outlook of his model.
While talking to me Muhammad Ramazan, the director of Ejaz Gallery said, "This expo is a venue to introduce the artists to the world audience and thus provide promotion and exposure to the local artists. The art is not for sale there it is for visual experience and in return gives artists world over recognition."
On the whole the Art Expo Malaysia was a life time experience and an educational event, with great entertainment value as well as quality diversity in terms of media, styles, artists and geography. This year AEM provide a judicious blend of modern and contemporary art also giving a unique insight into art of more traditional societies such as Tibet.
This international event has a flood of international exhibitors, artists and visitors from various countries including Argentina, Cuba, Ecuador, Hong Kong, china. Tibet, India, Hungry, Korea, Macau, Myanmar, Singapore, Pakistan, Indonesia, England, Asutralia, Spain, the Philippines, Taiwan, UK, US, France, Germany, Japan and Malaysia. [email protected]