KARACHI: An art exhibition in memory of the former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto titled We, the people began at Gallerie Sadequain on Thursday.

The show is a tribute to the struggle of the late prime minister in her political journey on the occasion of her birth anniversary. More than two dozen artists have displayed their works, and all of them have tried to do justice to the subject.

The artwork made by Khalid Soomro (digital print on canvas), from which the title of the show has been taken, is a fine way of paying respects not just to Benazir but also to her illustrious father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The different images of the two put together in a sequence depict a collective approach to life which society seems to be struggling with. It can be viewed both in terms of two individuals trying to make their contribution to Pakistani society as well as a symbol of the people’s power.

S. M. Raza creates an image of Benazir which has more of an aesthetic dimension to it than political angle. The painting called ‘Visionary woman’ (oil on canvas) gets hold of a static, somewhat pensive moment of her life. Her sideways glance is nicely captured, as if she has understood a scene but has decided not to talk about it.

Mohan Das does the same in ‘Benazir II’ (oil pastels on paper) with a slight difference: his image of her is a moving one, in the sense, in it she is waving her hand in her typical charming style which endeared her to the people of this land.

Perhaps the most heartwarming piece is ‘Memory’ made by Bakhtawar Mehar. Her (enamel paint) work brings together the late prime minister with her children, in a happy, joyous mood. How one wishes that things had remained that way!

The exhibition, curated by Mehreen Hashmi, hosted by Sharmila Faruqi and organised by the culture and tourism department of Sindh, will continue till June 24.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2016