KARACHI: Artists are thought to be individuals who like to work in isolation or in a private zone far from the public eye. They need their own space to give shape to inchoate ideas and only after giving them the final touches that they put their artworks on display. This is why artists generally shy away from working in groups. But when they do, they come up with some startling results for reasons best known to them. This was observed at the fifth alumni show of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture graduates titled Collaborate which opened at the school’s gallery on Monday.

Artworks of more than 40 artists, made either in pairs or groups, touch on a variety of subjects done in different media. The topics range from modern-day socio-political issues to personal predicaments to civic life.

Emaan Mahmud and Essa Malik use digital prints to draw attention to the fact that relationships witnessed from an outsider’s perspective can provide fodder to a creative person to come up with imaginative interpretations. They have set their image in a futuristic time frame and by using the water imagery have prevented it from looking outlandish. The end result is pretty impressive.

Sarah Anjum and Sahar Ghanchi have opted for a more traditional art form making a sullen face which depicts not just a character but an era. They have intriguingly titled their piece ‘Coming Together’ (acrylic paints, nails on Lasani board). The use of nails on the artwork serves a twofold purpose: it adds a distinct shade to the whole picture and highlights the pain of the character.

Humayun Memon and Ali Reza Dossal intelligently employ photographic art and illustrations to underscore the element of puzzlement which human beings often experience despite receiving crystal-clear signals. These signals are usually received by virtue of the visual sense, the eye to be specific. But even then sometimes the puzzles remain unsolved.

The exhibition will continue until Feb 16.