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Pakistan Observer
Tracey Moberly
PRINTMAKERS' WORKS GO ON DISPLAY
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Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Islamabad -- An exhibition of the works of 10 dynamic national and international printmakers opened here at Nomad Art Gallery on Monday.
The exhibition titled '10 A Collab,' offered an ideal platform to artists Elise Searson, Sidra Ali, Vibhuti Sharma, Sarah Hopkins, Tracey Moberly, Lovesh Sharma, Sameera Khan, Rodrigo Rosas, David Jones and Iram Wani for a collaborative cross-cultural dialogue inspired by their personal memories.
The artists showcased thought-provoking imagery which involved the use of new technology and traditional printmaking techniques.
"These 10 artists have challenged the old mindset and archaic thinking processes during the course of their journey of discovery and influence," gallery's director Nageen Hyat said.
The credit for the arranging this exhibition goes to Iram Wani, whose enthusiasm as a dedicated printmaker, with contribution from all participants, has created a bridge to bring together global thoughts and personal experiences in this collaborative initiative, Nageen added.
Pakistani artist Iram Wani is inspired by two Kashmiri women mystic poets and ascetics Habbah Khatoon, who is also known as 'Nightingale of Kashmir', and Lal Ded or 'Lalleshwar', which is expressed in her prints put on display at the exhibition.
"In my works, I have juxtaposed my symbols with the poetry of the two mystics to form accounts of ascension of soul and mind from the false self to the true self - a journey that seems very complex but once comprehended, is the purest of all innate understandings," she described.
Elise Searson's work is related to a series of images made on a trip to Poland in 2013, while Sidra Ali's focus is on self-therapy and self-healing. Similarly Sarah Hopkins likes to explore buildings and the urban environment, with an emphasis on architectural shape and pattern through her art.
Another printmaker, Vibhuti Sharma while describing his work said, "My work addresses not only the `comfort' that we have associated with the big brands but also the persuasive `male gaze' in advertising, where the female body is used as an attraction for the `pleasure' of an absent male spectator."
Tracey Moberly's collection explores power, women and the celebration of industry. "My work followed the decline of the manufacturing industries in the UK to that of consumer nation," she said.
David Jones' art practice has become a vehicle through which the critique of institutionalized and everyday racism in Australia can be pursued, whereas artist Rodrigo Rosas seems to be interested in exploring space and landscapes and how we construct those visual ideas.
Sameera Khan, another Pakistani printmaker, combines urban city maps with ethnic colours of Northern Pakistan in her work. She printed layers of vibrant colours to build images, constantly exploring new ways of representing ideas by transforming geometrical shapes, lines and textures into striking images of everyday beauty of cityscapes. The exhibition will continue till Eid-ul-Azha.
