DNA
ISLAMABAD: “Blurring Boundaries” 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. This conceptual journey highlights; 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.
Join us for an immersive experience into the world of arts and craftsmanship at “Blurring Boundaries”. Hosted by the Nomad Gallery and Lok Virsa, this event promises to mesmerize. Explore the exquisite craftsmanship and diverse perspectives with the works of Samina A. Akhtar, Sumera Jawad, Ubaid Syed, Nadir A. Jamali and Hassnain Awais. Parallel to the exhibition, there is an exquisite collection of crafts from artisans from across the country.
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.
Senior artist, 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.
As a female artist, 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.
