Pulsating with life's philosophy titled "Milestone" a group exhibition marks the first anniversary of Sanat Gallery, Karachi. The exhibition comprises the works of selected 13 artists who've been participating in a residency, solo show or group exhibitions at Sanat during the past one year.
The gallery launched last year with an artist's residency, in a bid to set the ground for other such initiatives that help towards the development of artists in Pakistan. The gallery was much interested in showcasing the works of fresh, new contemporary artists and provide them space for new experiences and experiments in the field of arts according to the standards and workings that are being done nowadays world over. Hence the main initiative of the gallery was to document the contemporary art of Pakistan.
During the year the gallery had arranged 15 exhibitions, 2 artist residencies, 2 collaborative projects which included the screening of a short film, and 16 publications. Many of the young artists have their solo show at the gallery within a year as there experience of a residency and a group show motivated them and they have done applauding artworks.
A catalogue was also published to mark the occasion which consists of 13 selected artists experiences and achievements including Abid Aslam, Anas Ghauri, Ghulam Mohammad, Hamida Khatri, Inaam Zafar, Kiran Saleem, Mohsin Shafi, Naveed Sadiq, Numair Abbasi, Sajid Khan, Shanzay Subzwri, Suleman Aqeel Khilji and Zahid Mayo. Abid Aslam is a Lahore based artist graduated from Hunerkada he works in medium of the ring just like miniature a painting is created with the help of tiny dots. He paint everyday life and monuments in this peculiar way and got appreciation from the art lovers and seniors.
Anas Ghauri is also Lahore based artist graduated from National College of Arts (NCA) he likes to draw and he feels that drawing and sketching is the be4st medium for him to express his ideas and thoughts to the masses in a better way. He communicates with others in this medium much easily and effectively. He mainly works in graphite and his grey palette exposes political and social issues in a lighter tone. His paintings have strong subjects portrayed in minimum visuals through black and white.
Ghulam Mohammad is a Karachi based artist, graduated from Beaconhouse National University (BNU) he work weave carpets from fragile pieces of different languages. His artworks give a global sense about humanity who has no boundaries no language despite thousands of languages is spoken worldwide but the language of expression is same. Cutting small pieces of words and pasting them together to form a new language - a language of expression is a unique idea that caught the eye of teachers and fans alike.
Hamida Khatri is a Karachi based artist, an alumnus of Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture (IVS) her paintings reveals her emotions and understanding of human body there is an invisible dialogue in her work. She talks about the journey of a woman and tried to understand the internal struggles she faces due to external suppression.
Inam Zafar is a Lahore based artist; graduated from Beaconhouse National University (BNU) he paints romantic and idealistic paintings. His paintings are reflections of thoughts and experiences. As feelings cannot be given specific images he paints in illusions that a viewer can interpret according to his/her thoughts and ideas.
Kiran Saleem is a resident of Faisalabad and got her Bachelors of Fine Art Degree from G.C University Faisalabad. Her paintings are personalized and has strong social message. She tried to understand the balance of two extremes - light and dark, strong and weak. There are always two sides of a coin and she wants to discover both of them. She put on her painting what she perceives. Her concept of everything has multiple sides and meanings are clear through her work. It is a universal truth and one must face it whether man or woman.
Mohsin Shafi an alumnus of NCA believes in individuals playing individual roles individually. He questions the blurred edges between identity and the intentions of identity. He paints the parallel existence of everyday uncertainties in our lives. He makes his point in mix media by painting, drawing and the digital prints.
Naveed Sadiq is a resident of Hyderabad during his graduation from NCA he experiences multicultural exchange of so many languages, cultural values which affect his work. Hew got much inspiration from the Persian and Mughal style of work and his body of work began to show strong historical references and the traditional imagery of miniature painting in to a contemporary expression. His theme of work revolves around ideas, beliefs, origin, creed and a haunting childhood.
Numair Abbasi graduated from Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture (IVS) recently his works are a personal journey, which critically inspects what it means to be a male in our culture. He focuses on frail boundaries between the masculine and feminine. He portrays the criterion around various gender roles, either within our social order or silently approved. He paints male figures in unlikely gestures and scenarios he used the male nude figure as a vessel to express his diverse thoughts may it be personal expression or a social commentary.
Sajid Khan is from from Malakand in KPK got graduation in Fine Arts, from University of Peshawar. His paintings shows the violence or what is currently happening as he spent all this time with my family, the landscape and the beauty, that seems to be missing. "There has been a shift in the landscape, where I come from... the elements of the landscape are changing. We are focused on current affairs, and that continues to affect me too".
Shanzay Subzwri a Karachi based artist graduated from Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture (IVS) as an artist she believes in critical thinking and conceptually practice. Her paintings cover geographical location, the exposure and experiences in life. Her paintings are an amalgamation of Mughal miniature painting and realistic concepts. She uses political personalities and other daily used items from currency notes to animal figures symbolically in her work.
Suleman Aqeel Khilji is a resident of Quetta Fascinated by the similarities between Inayat Khan's physique and those of the characters Suleman encountered living on the road inspired him to do the current series of painting titled "Inayat and Others". He reflected figures of common people we interact daily during our routine life. We came across these people on the roads when we were traveling by foot or in a vehicle but we just pass by without noticing their mysterious lives.
The paintings depicts expiring figures having weak body structure with skin stretched over bones creating a horrifying scene of an expired or expiring man on a death bed. The vulnerability and tragic flaw in the lives of such people resulted in grief and trauma reflected in their bodies. Whether these characters survived or not but they will live in the works of Suleman forever.
Zahid Mayo graduated from NCA wants to paint reality. He finds another way of expressing it. There is the idea of the individual, experiencing something. Everything in a painting is outside it is not within the artist it is the artist's experiences that got into the painting.
"Sanat was formed to respond to the contemporary artistic landscape of Pakistan. We felt that there was a need for a space that was able to nurture the careers of emerging artists and at the same time foster new dialogues through writing and discussion", said Abid Merchant, curator of the gallery. "Over the last year, we have learnt and grown and identified new possibilities and are looking forward to expanding upon our work in future years".
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