ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: A collection of paintings reflecting the true works of imagination by three women artists is on display at the Nomad Art Gallery.

The exhibition, titled Wandering Souls, will continue till November 24.

Salma Manzoor, who is an assistant professor in the architecture and design department at the Comsats Institute of Information Technology Islamabad, in her statement said female figures had always been in the limelight in the work of artists and authors who commented on society, collective psyche and behavioural changes through evaluation. She said women’s confrontation with society and changes in behaviour due to unequal socio-economic status was her main concern.

“In Pakistan, art and literature depicted women as the tragic icon. Injustices and discrimination faced by ordinary women encroached upon their rights and the sense to achieve their desired goal,” said Salma.

“The current series of my paintings on recycled handmade paper in the medium of watercolours began in 2006 and has a number of frequent elements. The drawn female figures are portrait, divisions of space, bubbles with softness of daises, pearls painted only in sea green colour and a painterly approach to colour and surface,” she said.

Shireen Ikram’s works are abstract, passionate and violent. Questioning thoughts in her mind, she is intrigued by what she painted on the canvas.

“Those thoughts fascinate and appeal to me when depicted on a surface, where emotions infiltrate me in a surreal and bizarre manner. These paintings capture the environment within, a hidden terrain, which delve into a domain of contrasting embankments and forces of nature, my inner human world,” she added.

Samina Ali, who is senior amongst the three painters, has a traditional yet contemporary feel. This collection was from the new series ‘Harf’ or ‘letters’ based on the dimensional assemblage of forms and images of love and peace, an intrinsic and meditative perception.