LAHORE: An exhibition featuring exclusively the works by artists from different institutes of Balochistan was the most happening art activity in the city on Thursday.

The exhibition curated by Dr Sumera Jawad, an art educationist, was organised by the Punjab Council of Arts in collaboration with the Lahore Museum.

The art show titled ‘Soul and Soil’ that opened at the Punjab Exhibition Hall, Tollinton Market, The Mall, was inaugurated by Walled City of Lahore Authority Director General Kamran Lashari and Lahore Museum Director Saman Rai.

Thirteen artists from Balochistan had put on display over 40 works at the exhibition which included paintings, sculptures and installations.

Saman Rai said: “The exhibition by artists [of Balochistan] has a great diversity and a strong comment on the social fabric of society, especially the works by female artists who are not that privileged, has a great potential and such works should be promoted at all levels.”

The artists who displayed their works are: Kaleem Khan, Ayesha Sajjad, Durdana Naseer, Imran Ali, Mairaj Muhammad, Naseeb Khan, Nisar Ahmed, Shahdeena Ukhra, Syed Mubarik Shah, Tamseel Hafsa, Umbreen Hussian, Usman Ali and Zil-e-Huma. All these artists are from different visual art institutes such as University of Balochistan, Quetta, Buitems University and SBK Women University, Quetta.

The event, which was attended by a large number of art fanciers, art collectors and students from different institutes, had an interesting and innovative line of works on display.

Durdana Naseer’s sculptures were highly admired by the visitors.

To Naseer, “Within the space provided in sculpture I try to build a world that is unquestionably changed from the one we live in, what fascinates me about my medium of cloth for rag dolls is that it can pull the viewer out of a logical and common world.”

Veteran artist Kaleem Khan’s painting explored nomadic traditions and lifestyle of Balochistan. Landscape by Imran Ali was all about light and location. Nisra Ahmed’s painting was the combination of modern abstract expressionism and neo-impressionism. The artist is highly inspired by literature, mid century and modern art.

Syed Mubarik Shah in his painting had tried to explore traditional beauty of female. Umbreen Hussian’s painting was about how women are victims of customs and how society determines the status of women. The exhibition will continue till Dec 20.

Karachi artists: A group exhibition of artworks titled ‘Interruption’ by three artists from Karachi opened at Ejaz Art Gallery MM Alam Road on Thursday.

The artists who put on display their works were Ali Karimi, Faiz Supro and Syed Arslan Naqvi. In his artworks, Karimi tried to figure out the structure of the image, how people perceive an image as a very specific structure, with the illusion of space and volume.

Faiz Supro’s works portrayed the market place usually established in traditional fairs of Sindh. These markets are worth seeing as they keep decorated stalls to sale their beautiful products and the artist has tried to represent happiness in the language of lines.

Arsalan Naqvi’s artworks touched upon the lives of streetchildren. He managed to capture their hurt, vulnerability, innocence and helplessness and immortalized their dark childhood through. His paintings find expression through symbolism, inspired by cubism.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2018