ISLAMABAD: An exhibition featuring two artists opened on Saturday, depicting the vast expanse, rugged mountain terrain, suffering and resilience of the people of Balochistan.

The show, titled Narrative Balochistan showcased the work of Doda Khan Badini and Fahim Baloch. It was inaugurated by Qazi Azmat Isa, chief executive of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund.

The exhibition contained more than 20 drawings and paintings characterised by the artists’ vivid depiction of the vast mountain terrain of Balochistan, and the lives of the men and women trapped in cycles of social and political conflict and violence.

The portrayal of the tribal chieftains, nomads, shepherds and folk singers shows the two artists’ love for the land and its resilient people.

Mr Isa commended the artists’ work and said the faces and the landscape portrayed in the paintings resonated with him since because he had come from Balochistan. The artists have shown the strong characters, the tough life, valour and chivalry, he said.

He drew similarities between the mountains and topography of Kharan and Gilgit-Baltistan. “However, one can find a huge sense of space in Balochistan and the vastness has its own charm.”

He added that Mr Baloch had nicely captured it and portrayed the unique tribal identities and ethnography of Balochistan.

Mr Isa commended Nageen Hyatt, the curator, as an advocate for artists and craftspeople coming from different cultural strands and marginalised areas, whom he termed unsung heroes because they project culture and life which is absolutely essential for any society’s growth.

Artist Jimmy Engineer said an artist needs appreciation. Without appreciation, art and artists will not flourish. Since I was born in Balochistan, I feel proud to see such marvellous work from my native province, he added.

He said the two artists had skilfully captured the rough terrain and life. If you look at the nomadic and tribal people, they look very smart in their heavy headgear, he said, and the figures, landscape, and expressions are very strong.

“The two artists are exceptionally very talented and true to their art and themselves,” Ms Hyat, the curator and director of the gallery, said.

“Many of us feel that Balochistan is so far away. We should celebrate the rich culture and art of other provinces, give them space and respect as equal Pakistanis and encourage artists from peripheries and marginalised communities,” she said.

“Doda’s excellent drawings capture the expressions of the local community,” she added.

Mr Badini’s series on Baloch women, girls, Kochi women, Mari tribesmen and Nar flutists and throat singers in sepia charcoal and chalk on toned paper depicts their pain, perseverance, and resilience.

Although self-taught, art is in Mr Badini’s gene as he is the nephew of noted painter Akram Dost Baloch.

He has adopted a monotone approach with a mixture of bold strokes and softer shading to portray the people of the province, adding an incredible amount of depth and form to his portraits.

A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with degrees in physics and philosophy, Mr Badini has also taught drawing and philosophy and aesthetics of art at Balochistan University, Cambridge and MIT.

Mr Baloch is a sculptor and painter, inspired by Balochistan’s landscapes and rich culture. Currently working as a museum curator at the Balochi Study Centre, Balochistan University, he has participated in numerous solo and group shows.

Mr Baloch’s bold expressions and lines show that he has complete control over his medium. The expressions, liners and the figures done in charcoal on paper are very exuberant.

“The subject of portraits fascinates me very much. The abundance and variety of inspirations in Balochistan is a great privilege for an artist,” he said.

There is hardiness, simplicity and beauty in the native features that mirrors much of the harsh and imposing, yet wildly varied and beautiful spectacle of Balochistan’s geography. I have sought to capture that and limited myself to charcoal and paper in my recent work, he noted.

Mr Baloch said Balochistan’s sprawling hill ranges and deserts never cease to inspire him. He added that he also gets inspiration from landscapes by his teachers Kaleem Khan and Jamil Baloch.

The show will continue every day until June 20 from 11am to 6pm except Fridays.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2019