ART FACTS: Exploring human forms and feelings

Spontaneous, pulsating, un-interruptive and full of energy - the sculptures say it all. Talat Dabir is experimental in approach she captures diverse themes in a unique manner. Her artistic skills take shape in an innovative style showing her mastery in the medium.
Having contemporary perspective an exhibition of sculptures in terracotta by Talat Dabir at Artscene Galleries, Karachi is a pleasant and unforgettable experience for the art lovers. Her recent body of work entitled "Aag Matti aur Pani" depicts traumatic incidents as well as happy moments.
Her new series is different from the previous work. This time she has moulded the paintings in sculpture form. In simple words she has made sculptures as paintings with different colours and symbols in clay and terracotta. She is a senior artist her work is thoughtful, deep, some what mysterious and mature. The recent collection is a series of enigmatic pieces with strong feelings and emotions carved and moulded in sculptures. Over all she addresses humanity.
She has a spacious basement studio and kiln where she moulds her creative spark into sculptures. She explores the medium through different structures giving a variety of colours combination; inventing stylistic work depicting a particular theme. The third dimension of the pieces is invoked by various symbolic patterns and elements attached to the sculptures enhancing their meaning and philosophy.
One can feel the laborious work of moulding and carving that results in such an impressive work. Her artworks feature an amalgamation of abstract behaviours and real expressions. The exquisite art pieces focus on everyday issues around us which directly or indirectly affect our lives. Exploring various human forms and feelings she combines the rhythm of vibrant colours of sand and creative ethos to express wonderfully the world of her emotions. She touches every aspect of life through her art and makes it feel the same way by the viewers. That's why her art pieces create a link with the viewers by engaging them in a dialogue, which expresses feelings of sadness as well as joy.
The three dimensional compositions laid with birds, animals, arches, trees and flowers elegantly interposed with elongated human figures. Hands are a prominent feature of sculptures the slim slender forms has large hands as compared to the face and body. Many of the sculptures are single forms some show embracing couples or groups depicting brotherhood and peace and harmony. The figures juxtaposed with the architectural elements filling spaces with ornaments and other organic forms. The basic concept of her artworks lies in the mystics of our land. The stories are woven around social infrastructure and human psyche.
She captures her feelings in form of sculptures. All of her works are subject oriented drawing attention of the public towards an issue and help them carving their views about that issue.
Her sculptures draped in traditional values depicting challenges faced by people due to natural calamities. Traces of flowers, trees and fruits are the positive side of life as the victims must not loose hope. The deep concepts related to human lives evolve into these fine structures reflecting various perspectives through lines and figures. The clay in her hand moulds in historical events, architectural feats, nature and human evolution.
Some of the works produce illusions like fairy tales, beautiful and eye catching. Talat's imagination and sensitivity give clay different shapes of life. Each art piece portrays emotions and passion. Her primary objective is to highlight human condition through sculptures.
The detail of her sculptures is commendable and speaks volumes about her artistic skills. Engaged and involved in creative work producing sculptures she is actually transforming herself in these art pieces. At present she is Associate Professor, Department of Fine Arts, National College of Arts, Lahore and is associated with the NCA since 1977. She has many solo and group shows to her credit. She made many sculptures to commemorate historical events. Many of her sculptures and murals are intended as public art, exhibited outdoors or in public buildings for the common man such as a mural at the international lounge of the Allama Iqbal International Airport, while her other works adorn the Presidency, State Bank and Parliament House. She has also won several awards. [email protected]