LAHORE: Charged with expressions, emotions and nostalgia, “Visual Dissemination” by young artists is on display at the Ocean Art Gallery.

Taking an ethereal escape from the confines of human existence, Fareeha Nawaz’s landscape offers imagination to roam freely and pleasurably through the canvas. There is an inspiration of pointillist and expressionist style in her work. With use of radiant yellows, orange, red, green and soft blues, she finds a way to escape from unpleasant realities of life and deliberately creates a quaint picture of the world where peace and joy reigns supreme. Fareeha finds peace while turning to nature, touching the element of romanticism.

Revisiting the precise moment through the construction of a “family memory,” Javeria Qadir sentimentally paints artworks that draw on nostalgia and evoke a sense of timeless longing. She tries to capture the fleeting nature of human life and the beautiful moments once enjoyed by the family. One finds callous approach towards calligraphic script in the work done on gouache on vasli.

In the middle of the gallery’s floor a sculpture stands as an enduring example of symbolism by Iman Asif. Titled “MANSAB,” the shiny metal chair is made with steel wires and safety pins; symbolizing pinching, demanding and messy connection between humans. There is an irony in the use of safety pins and wired together they might represent a sense of connection but in actual (as per the artist) they pinch and cause pain to create discomfort.

“Threads of Time” by Abdul Manan is an artistic journey of revisiting and reliving the past. Accompanied with a mysterious companion – a frog, the female figure, rendered in meticulously realistic manner, has a meditative and a contemplative mood. Manan has used a traditional symbol of Mexican frog, which is generally associated with water element and its cleansing attributes such as renewal, abundance and metamorphosis. To Manan, it symbolises healing, transformation and emergence of human existence with renewed hope and strength. In canvases red –bubbled-eyed frog can be seen relaxing, in a contemplative mood and also running away from the tangled web of thoughts. In “Listening 1” his intent and daring gaze towards the viewer is ominous, signifying his deep connection with the main figure. The realistic execution of hair strands and folds of paper is marvelous, rendered in charcoal on canvas.

Down the memory lane, Sahar Dahri celebrates the childhood moments through abstract and pointillist style with use of tiny, distinct dots of bright colors. In “A glimpse into childhood memories,” a tangled web of dotted colors is created through oil on canvas to create an evocative narrative of childhood, inviting the viewers to reconnect with their own carefree times.

The inspiration of miniature is prominent on many canvases of the gallery. The show, curated by Tanya Sani, is a harmonious blend of pointillism, surrealism, realism and expressionism illuminated by vivid and daring hues. Today is the last day of the exhibition.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2024