ART FACTS: The feminine mystique

A versatile collection of woman artists' works - paintings as well as sculptures exhibited at the Alliance Francaise Gallery, Karachi to commemorate the International Women's Day. The art exhibition titled "Connecting Women: Inspiring Futures" presents paintings of both celebrated and upcoming female artists thus providing an opportunity to witness artworks in an innovative way in diverse mediums.
Bright images emerging on canvases in an immense variety ranging from oils, acrylic, charcoal, graphite, pastel, water colour, ink wash to mix medium. Each of the artists is famous and admired for her work and display signs of social awareness in their artworks. The paintings are meaningful and relevant to the times and its problems regarding women, rendering both sufferings and status of women in our society. The artworks discuss every role played by a woman during her lifetime. The faces and figures of women describe the part women play in a social context.
The spirit of the exhibition is an objective to discover originality in style. The artists managed to bring different moods and situations of women to life. Another aim is to celebrate Women's Day and pledge to do more work in art to promote equality and counter the bias regarding women's role in the society and in the country's development socially as well as economically.
The themes vary from painting to painting as each female artist expresses her own emotions regarding certain issues. Each painting shows creativity and skilful execution and therefore appealing to the viewer. The paintings shares the moments of sorrow and joy trying to resolve issues thus challenging social taboos by breaking barriers and crossing limits which enslave women for years.
The exhibition provides a way to communicate with the outer world with respect to women problems and various injustices impose on them from the society. It shows women's understanding of other women's feelings and emotions and suggests solutions also for the issues.
Some of the artist's paintings capture a mystical projection of women's expression and mood like Nahid Raza, Rabia Zuberi, Mehar Afroze, and Shakira Masood. These women artists have an excellent command on design and colour revealing their knowledge about the subjects related to women. Their artistic manifestation of women in dignified expressions indicates their talent.
Sketches, drawings and digital artworks supports women's soft image and expose the delicacy and love related to women like the paintings of Hajra Mansur, Mona Naqsh, Sammer Sultan, Nazia Khan, Shazia Qaiser and Laiba Baig. A few artists like , Tabinda Chinoy, Cyra Ali, Reem Khurshid, Durriya Kazi, Zahra David, Shamim Ahmed, convey a message of gender equality through their art. Their views on feminism can be judged by the titles of the paintings.
These women artists became the voice of those unheard women, thus exploring the journey of woman's life through paintings, based on the conditions and factors of the society. The paintings seem the best way to explain the perceptions, self-awareness and exploration by women. The life of a woman is divided into various stages. She passes through different emotions and feelings during her lifetime and wants to express her thoughts and ideas too. The exhibited artworks serve as an example and encourage women to achieve their goals and aims in life.
These female artists use their art to bring forth women's genuine issues keeping their commitment towards the women of our community and in a manner tried to contribute their share in the society. The powerful and bright colours of paintings depict the vibrant and positive mood of artists. They skilfully handle and define women issues on their large and small canvases in bold and beautiful colours. Their paintings give a strong message of hope and good times ahead.
The exhibition created by diverse women with a purpose to inspire, challenge and provoke thought is an effort of Yasmin Hyder, CEO, New World Concepts in collaboration with Grandeur Art Gallery, Karachi. Neshmia Ahmad, Curator of the gallery says that the exhibition connects the Women's Day to celebrate the artistic grace of women through paintings, sketches and sculpture.
The group show include artworks of twelve senior women artists Nahid Raza, Rabia Zuberi, Hajra Mansur, Durriya Kazi, Mona Naqsh, Mehar Afroze, Zahra David, Tabinda Chinoy, Shamim Ahmed, Riffat Alvi Nazia Khan, Shakira Masood and Six young female artists Marium Aga, Cyra Ali, Laiba Baig, Reem Khurshid, Sammer Sultan and Shazia Qaiser. [email protected]