Tazeen Akhtar
Ambassador of Portugal, H.E Frederico Silva inaugurated “Blurring Boundaries” , an exhibition of fine art and exquisite crafts arranged by Nomad Gallery at Lok Virsa art gallery on 02 May 2024. Selective work of 4 artists from different parts of Pakistan has been displayed in the Exhibition that is on for the art lovers at the spot in working hours. Director Nomad Ms Nageen Hyat and Executive Director Mohammad Uzair Khan were also present at the occasion.
Mr. Silva himself is expert of history especially the relations and connections between Portugal and the South Asian region that is now Pakistan and India. He is big art lover and torch bearer of promotion of cultural linkages between the two countries.
Other dignitaries from diplomatic community also participated in the event and encouraged the young artists. Ambassador of Morocco Mohamed Karmoun, Ambassador of Jordon, Maen Khreasat, Ambassador of Palestine H.E Ahmed Ameen, Acting Ambassador of Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Saeedjon Shafi also graced the event with their presence.
The guests explored the exquisite craftsmanship and diverse perspectives with the works of Samina A. Akhtar, Sumera Jawad, Ubaid Syed, Nadir A. Jamali and Hassnain Awais.
Their work inspires by reminiscing of their unique earlier art, current responses through powerful imagery to the local and global situation; whether personal, political, social conflicts; or imbibing peace from natural habitat.
The visitors found it an immersive experience into the world of arts, culture, landscapes and social aspects attached to the territories the artists belong to.Parallel to the exhibition, there was an exquisite collection of crafts from artisans from across the country.
H.E Frederico Silva greeted the artists and called them king makers of the day. Ambassador and his colleagues from other countries appreciated the work of the artists taking keen interest in the master pieces displayed there as indeed very remarkable art.
Ambassador Portugal, in his address hailed the diversity of Pakistan. He said , “Pakistan provides to us a tremendous rich and diverse historical, sociological, geographical and cultural landscape.This country appears to be like a big and quite lively lake into which so many different rivers brought and continue to bring distinct but interacting waters, persons, faiths, views and cultures.
“With an history spanning thousands of years, marked by successive brilliant civilizations, Pakistan is the birth place of moments that are unique inside the universal history of mankind and human cultural achievements. Only to mention a few, the Indus Civilization, the Gandhara Civilization, the Mughal Era and the Pahari Paining scene, Mr. Silva continued.
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H.E Frederico Silva said, “More recently, Modern and Contemporary Art in Pakistan gave continuation to this brilliant heritage, at same time advanced innovative styles, techniques and existential narratives.”
“Under the expert guidance of the curator Nageen Hyat from Nomad Gallery, 40 years of very good services, who has put together a vibrant ensemble of artistic voices, speaking through paintings but also through the blessed hands of artisan crafters.Looking through one physical window gives us access to different outdoor visions, Ambassador continued.
“But, looking at life through art invites us to access, in our own way, the soul dimension of another person. But even more than it, these windows made possible by art allow us to better see and to better feel the collective soul of a community, the collective soul of a society. In this case, the collective soul of this amazing country that is Pakistan, Mr. Silva concluded.
Ambassador of Jordon H.E Maen Khreasat, Founder-Director Nomad Gallery, Ms Nageen Hyat, Executive Director of Lok Virsa, Muhammad Uzair Khan also addressed the guests and congratulated them on their craftsmanship.
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About ‘Blurring Boundaries’
It is a strong, purposeful art exhibition curated by Nageen Hyat, Founder Director, Nomad Gallery as a tribute to the establishment of the art and cultural space. The purpose of an art exhibition is ultimately unique to each exhibition, driven by the concept of the curator, by the select artists creations and the context of the space.
As Nomad Gallery celebrates 40 years of creating a space for artistic voice and underscoring our sustained objective to empowering women and communities., let’s come together to honor our heritage and inspire creativity.
About the Artists
Samina A. Akhtar works in a distinct method reflecting the Moghul period era in a contemporary style; using mix – medium, acrylics & oils. Her work consists of strong compositions of women in the Moghul court, highlighted by gold & silver leafs, variegated leaf with stylized poetry in the form of calligraphy to emphasize traditional writing skills. Her artworks are inspiring and popular in collections locally and internationally.
Sumera Jawad has always been fascinated with the role of the female form in the ancient civilizations. In ‘Blurring Boundaries’ her work is rooted in contemporary narratives reflecting interplay between male and female dynamics. This view may be ensconced in our way of seeing (or not seeing) holistic context. She is an accomplished artist and currently heads the Fine Arts Department of the Punjab University.
Having studied Fine Art at the Karachi School of Arts in Karachi and in Sweden, attended residency (Emma Ricklunds Foundation, Sweden) and being a member of The Swedish Artists National Organization (KRO-Konstnärernas Riksorganisation) Ubaid Syed is an established name in the art world residing in Sweden while occasionally traveling to Pakistan. His striking paintings, of Lapland, reflect fascinating possibilities, swathes of lonely landscapes, rich strokes and brilliant colors. Each painting has a unique mood and narrative to share playing with forms and colors, leaving the viewer to interpret their own meanings. Ubaid’s aesthetic sense is calm, soothing and mature, perhaps showing the environmental and ecological change.
Nadir A. Jamali, senior artist and teacher, contributes to ‘Blurring Boundaries’, a symbolic Thar boy seen wandering and looking at the universe above him. The Thar boy, for Nadir Ali Jamali, is a symbol of struggle and courage in life, where he allows this character to roam on paper and canvas. Nadir used subdued washes to form a sense of dunes, that merge and move like waves around the character.The magnificence of Thar is celebrated in the verses of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, that narrates the character of this region and their adoration for the wonderous land and that was the beginning of his inspiration to paint them. A glimpse away from the daily trials and triumphs as they go about living with an unshakable sense of spirituality and faith. This is a visual narration of many such persons since ancient times, who abound in Pakistan.The current exhibition ‘Blurring Boundaries’ features his powerful perspective in the medium of watercolors and acrylics thus providing a window of struggle and hope to viewers and art lovers.
Hassnain Awais’ artworks in ‘Blurring Boundaries’ ventures into archives consisting of records that have been selected for permanent or long-term preservation on grounds of their enduring cultural, historical, or evidentiary value. Such records are normally unpublished and almost always unique. His work revolves around a feeling or a bond that one develops with such personalized paper, letters, envelopes, etc. One develops a strange bond with these archival papers and the fact that we are slowly moving away from them. Elements in Hassnain’s work represents different sets of our society and its norms. Each image is telling us a different story, or lessons of life and is presented in the form of visual poetry which needs to be deciphered.
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