ISLAMABAD: A group show featuring works by three Lahore-based budding visual artists showcasing the mysteries and glory of nature and its vulnerability to climate change opened at Dastaangoi Gallery on Thursday.

The first show of the season, Dreaming of Nature features a collection of works by Mamoon Tahir, Shafia Kashaf, and Fawad Jafari depicting nature in the multi-verse to initiate a dialogue on the current climate-induced crisis and other natural disasters that we are facing.

The gallery, which is a relatively new space for art in the capital city, was founded by a young couple -- Amad Mian and Waleeya Ahmad – in 2021 “with a mission to showcase a curated selection of exceptional art by emerging talent from the Global South”. Dastaangoi also operates in Dubai.

Talking about the show, Mr Amad said the exhibits are a testament to the artists’ imaginative prowess, as they conjure up unique worlds that are intricately woven into the fabric of nature. It also shows the artists’ passion for nature and their desire to showcase it in all its glory, even as we confront the harsh realities of climate change and other natural calamities.

Mamoon Tahir’s work is inspired by ethereal landscapes where science fiction and nature harmonise to create captivating compositions. His current work is an extension of his practice in observation and imagination. Mr Mamoon has depicted his fascination for humans, animals, nature, forms, and spaces around him.

Although Shafia Mirza is primarily a make-up artist, she has blended it with visual art, creating brilliant pieces on the light box. Her work is about diversity in human forms that already exist in nature. In her latest body of work, she has treated the skin as her palette and did a mimetic visual play of makeup and fine art together.

Fawad Jafri is a graduate of the National College of Arts (NCA). His work is inspired by his experience with the world of graphic design and his interest in shape and form originated through working with the simplest of elements. In his latest work, he has composed geometrical shapes and colours on canvas through lines, creating a 3-D expression and developing an unknown but relatable form.

Mr Fawad’s endeavor is to paint certain images which are very uncommon. The show will continue till March 22.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2023