WEEKEND MAGAZINE (August 22
2009): The current year witnessed the catastrophic effects of the 'Recession'
that has changed the world economic scenario thus affecting the daily lives of
the people around the globe. The gloom and despair in the air make many to
wonder whether they could fight out this massive economic breakdown and the
people could ever live a normal life as before.
As artists are one of the most sensitive section of a society they feel the same
way here and some of the young artists decided to dedicate their work to all
those who are affected by this calamity.
Soraya Sikander organised a group show at Unicorn Gallery of seven young
enthusiastic artists with a title 'Recession' to vent out their feelings about
the present situation occurred due to recession, with little certainty of
success and silent hope for better days.
Everybody is battling the recession at their front; Soraya had the vision to
organise a thematic exhibition, which convey a strong message to the viewers and
give space and opportunity to budding artists to display their individual views
about a big issue that struck the societies of the world hard, including ours.
She selected a theme which is close to the heart of the people now-a-days
therefore, it got a warm welcome. The exhibition shows the paintings of Anna
Baig, Ilona Yousuf, Sana Jawwad, Syed Faraz Ali, Soraya Sikander, Aarij Hashmi
and Aasim Akhtar.
Soraya Sikander's paintings are much appealing than others. While talking to her
during exhibition she explained the pinching affects of the theme she felt and
decided to paint her feeling, others also appreciated her idea and join in.
Her selection of theme is timely that is dealing with a current issue. She
specialised in a medium of her choice and stick to a subject for a length of
time before switching over to another theme and style. She has a good sense of
composition and if she concentrate in her work a little more and show
consistency for a certain period of time she will soon be among well known
artists of our new generation.
The serious theme of the show had made the gallery atmosphere some what somber
but this shows how people are involve in burning issues and how they felt and
react to them and face certain circumstances.
A painting titled 'The story of recession' by Soraya Sikander rightly expresses
the situation created by recession and gives the whole picture of the problem
being faced by the people world over. Another painting by Ilona Yousuf, 'Quarter
dollar' display the disparity and the relation of people to money.
The money that matters the most now in our societies, the struggle to make both
ends meet has made people money minded they now only think of earning money to
feed their loved ones.
The basic necessities of life are all related to economic change that took its
toll on the jobs and in turn directly to the lives of the people.
While going through the exhibition, one can understand the concern of these
young artists by knowing the titles of their paintings - Anna Baig's Reach,
Grind, Halt, Cloud Above my Head, Out of the Blue, Into the Dark, in oil on
canvas. Ilona Yousuf used mix media on archies paper in her paintings titled
Slippage, Quarter Dollar, Recession. Sana Jawwad's The Bars Beyond, Unbearable,
The Free Joints, Injected were in gouache on wasli. Soraya Sikander's Story of
Recession was on paper in mixed media.
Syed Faraz Ali, Aarij Hashmi and Aasim Akhtar's paintings were untitled, I
suppose they could not find the exact words for their paintings as in the art
world picture speak louder than words.Aasim Akhtar's work in led pencil on
archies paper was fabulous, whole Syed Faraz Ali used different medium for
different paintings in ink, gauache and water colour on archies paper.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2009
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