Every year different events were held to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. This year also organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrated the International Women's Day with zeal.
And to celebrate the same a versatile collection of paintings as well as drawings and sculptures were exhibited at the Frere Hall's Sadequain Art Gallery, Karachi. The show was organised by Grandeur Gallery, Karachi in collaboration with Culture Department CS and R KMC recently to commemorate the International Women's Day. The artworks at the group show were focused on International Women's Day theme reflecting artistic expressions in a variety of emotions and representations. The main focus of the paintings was the themes related to women and society.
Each of the artists played his/her role in spreading awareness among women as well as community regarding women issues and problems. The collection of paintings was both delightful and thought provoking. Some paintings have light mood while the others deals with serious subjects.
The introspective artworks created by the artists delineate many unspoken issues that need attention and recognise as a serious problem rather than a norm for the society. Some paintings were focused on the relationship between the social environment and the women through symbolic imagery and artistic demonstration. While the impressionistic strokes of some artists create a mystery, through form and expression, leaving a lot to the imagination of the viewer.
The figurative works speaks about life filled with movement and colours. The bold and soft texture depicts different facets of life. Each of the artists executed their work through intricate and detailed compositions and transcribed their thoughts with immense skills on canvas and paper. The aim of the exhibition was to explore the journey of woman's life through paintings, based on the conditions and factors of the society.
The paintings were 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. Depicting abstract, figurative art and landscapes the artworks touched the basic theme of women issues. Almost all the paintings were in bright hues exuding refreshing energy some have symbolic expressions while others portrayed realistic images.
The artists have successfully captured the moods and sufferings of women in their artworks. The lines, colours and balanced compositions created sharp and effective images exploring the richness of female form in a variety of mediums depicting diverse moods, thoughts and experiences. Bright images emerged in paintings in an immense variety ranging from oils, acrylic, charcoal, graphite, pastel, water colour, ink wash to mix medium.
Each of the artists' artwork displayed signs of social awareness. The paintings captured unique images of daily-life of women along with the artist's own perspective. Each piece of art has a story to tell thus expressing themselves on the canvas. The paintings were meaningful and relevant to the times and its problems regarding women, rendering both sufferings and status of women in our society. The artworks discussed various roles of women in our social context.
Some showed women's wishes and desires while the other reveals act of violence urging society to give them space and understand their feelings. The artists shared their profound and philosophical understanding of life through the artworks. Their sensitively executed works resulted in strong yet subtle imagery using both figures as well as symbols.
The artists managed to bring different moods and situations of women to life. The thematic works raised public awareness on the gender issues and inspired the future generation. The themes vary from painting to painting as each artist expressed their own emotions regarding certain issues.
The paintings shared the moments of sorrow and joy challenging social taboos by breaking barriers and crossing limits which enslaved women for years. Some of the artist's paintings captured a mystical projection of women's expressions and moods. The exhibition included the artworks of more than forty five artist: Amir Khatri, Akbar Ali, Akbar Hafeez, Akram Spaul, Anwer Parakh, Azra Wahab, Aziz Hasan, Chitra Pritam, Faiza Sheikh, Fariha Rashid, Fariya Zaeem, Farrukh Sahab, G N Kazi, Huvaida Mubarak, Imran Zaib, J A Nisar Ali, Kohari, Lubna Jahangir, M A Bukhari, Mashkoor Raza, Mariyam Saeedullah, Mehtab Ali, Mina Ali Raza, Moazzam Ali, Mohammad Ali Bhatti, Nisar Ahmed, Omar Farid, Qammar Siddique, A S Rind, S A Noori, Sabiha Nasruddin, Saleem Bhopali, Seemab, Shahzad Zar, Shazia Qaiser, Sukaina, Tabinda Chinoy, Tanweer Farooqi, Tariq Javed, Tariq Luni, Wahab Jaffer, Wasi Haider, Zara Khan, Zarmina Bakhtiar and Zehra Javeri.
nadeemzuberi71@gmail.com