ART FACTS: Light and shadows

G N Qazi's selected theme for his recent exhibition touches the hearts of many sensitive people who also wants to create awareness about our heritage, and could not find a way. But Qazi has a way his canvas. His new work mainly contains scattered traditional cityscapes, buildings and old architecture reflecting our past glories and present time side by side.
His paintings show various times of the day - noon and evening bathing in sunlight. In others night scene depict shadows creeping into the dark making a dramatic situation. He captures realist colours and textures expressing the themes behind his subject matter effectively. He has changed his style and work in oils and acrylic in the current series. His paintings show some modern structures along with the old architecture, which gives the viewers a true reflection of lifestyle and buildings in the new era. His artworks present the richness of the place as well as an introduction to our heritage. His work has now an identity and can easily be recognised among other artists work.
Qazi's work shows passion and affection. He portrays densely knit buildings and dwellings of various cities of Pakistan. In his new work he shows the introduction of technology between the buildings in the form of electric poles and wires. He creates dusk in the lanes and roof tops of urban areas presenting a totally different feeling from his sun struck noon scenes.
He portrays each building with every possible feature that brings his paintings almost real giving a feeling of actually being there. The rusted balconies, the street scenes and activities on the roof tops all these renditions make his work appealing and attractive. The clusters of houses with colourful laundry on the roofs, women on a terrace and kites flying in the sky all are elements of every day life experiences of common people.
Qazi's current works reveals a prominent balance. He has reached the sensibility to dramatise simple situations with ordinary things. He paints various small items which allow him to add red and white in bits to break the monotony of ochre.
An imaginary, blended with realistic situations, depicts an overwhelming energy in his paintings. With well defined lines, balanced by light and shadows the stately nostalgic works offer viewers a somewhat different perspective of the rural life with deep red and ochre background.
He works in a broad range of colours and tones, but tends to focus on one range of hues in each painting, from red, ochre to creamy pale yellows and deep blues. The images he choose, such as luscious patterns, landscape, clouds or even figures like children, women, old and young men, all assemble into a coherent manner with a touch of contemporary sensibility. The street scenes are dominating his canvases with clusters of houses brimming with activities.
The colours express tranquillity and a perspicuous flow. Thus brings forth images with creative dimensions. His works portray densely knitted, well built, dwellings of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Thatta and interior Sindh. The detailed structures of buildings signify maturity he has gained over the years. He has achieved the sensibility of exposing the subject effectively which is a sign of a passionate painter.
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