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    Art Review: EVOCATIONS at O Art Space

    Written by: Bilal Sohail
    Posted on: May 12, 2022 | | 中文

    Afternoon by Natalia Ashraf

    Do you tend to think visually or verbally? It is suggested that we humans may have different ways of constructing our thoughts. Nonetheless, there is some form of inner narrative or picture that we form inside our heads as we experience every moment. Filmography combines these two mediums of thinking together, as a tool of expression. While this does allow for a more immersive experience, it leaves little room for imagination. This is probably the reason why books and physical art exhibits can never go obsolete. They affect visual and verbal thinkers very differently.

    Staying true to the artistic vibe of Lahore, O Art Space is hosting an art exhibition by the name of EVOCATIONS, that started on the 10th of May and will continue till the 16th of this month. The works of four incredibly talented and emerging artists are on display. Quite often, artists don’t like sharing exhibition space with other artists, which is why the concept of a group show was fairly intriguing for us. The talented lineup consists of Maisam Hussain, Mahzaib Baloch, Natalia Ashraf and Sameen Agha. It was refreshing to see that these artists used different mediums to express both meaning and emotion. It was indeed all in the details, the stroke of the brush, the roughness of graphite, and the mood-altering use of colors.

    O Art Space

    Maisam Hussain graduated from NCA in 2020, with a distinction. Hailing from Parachinar, he pursued visual arts as a means to express the bitter experiences he had there. He aims to encapsulate the trauma, harsh reality, and the wretched permanence of bullets, bombarded buildings, and battle scars through his exceptional work. The use of graphite and gunpowder to recreate the terrorizing scenes of warfare was exemplary. We were quite impressed by the attention to detail in drawing walls, damaged heavily with bullet holes. When looking from a distance, we initially thought that this was a photography display, because of the visual accuracy in his work. The overall tone, however, was somber as intended.

    Meray ghar ki dewaar by Maisam Hussain

    When thinking about warfare, we often picture explosions and gunfire… but we never stop to think about the lives of innocent children with impressionable minds, and how the sounds and remnants of gunfire must terrorize them every night in war-torn areas. Maisam is a member of ETA (Education Through Art) in Parachinar and is currently part of the visiting faculty at NCA.

    Next up, we looked at Mahzaib Baloch's artwork. She is a visual artist from Quetta, Balochistan. Her art style immediately stood out from the rest as we were mesmerized by the irregularity, rich textures and the captivating use of earthy and anomalous colors. She used gouache on archival paper, which tends to be much more opaque than watercolors. There was a great deal of abstraction in her work, but it was still reminiscent of her heritage.

    Untitled II (Details) by Mahzaib Baloch

    We felt that the 'Untitled II' was fairly representative of how the Balochi cultural heritage is under attack, amidst continued civil unrest there. However, the creative use of colors, especially in 'Untitled III', inspired hope for the future. Mahzaib has previously displayed her work in numerous national and international exhibitions, including group shows in the Swiss Embassy and the Rietberg Museum, Zurich.

    After receiving a healthy dose of traumatic realism from Maisam and abstract surrealism from Mahzaib, we were ready to move on to Natalia Ashraf's work. Like the other three artists, Natalia is also an NCA graduate who specialized in 'Traditional Miniature Painting'. While looking at her work, we were quite impressed by the mood she managed to create through her well-detailed life drawings.

    It's Has Been Five Hours (Details) by Natalia Ashraf

    'It's Been Five Hours' was our personal favorite because of the contrast, use of a familiar traditional setting and the careful curation of expressions on the subject's face. Not only was it a very good life drawing like the rest of her work, but it was also reflective of its well thought out title. Shadows were realistic and the lack of color perfectly complemented the theme of waiting. We felt that her powerful grasp on the perspective design principle is noteworthy indeed. Some of her other works on display, including 'Afternoon', 'Anemia' and 'My Childhood' were also reflective of her artistic prowess.

    My Childhood by Natalia Ashraf

    While Natalia used graphite as her primary medium, we experienced a refreshing change of pace through the artwork of Sameen Agha. She used oil on canvas and marble to express what we can only think of as subjective realism. For reality is what the artist perceives. The use of marble in framing conveyed a rather different feeling. In 'Home is a terrible place to love', there was an unsettling feeling that she managed to create through the use of carefully laid out bricks.

    We felt that Sameen's work as a whole, showcases her versatility as an artist. 'Sadaa Bahar' managed to convey a contrastingly different narrative than the rest of her work which demonstrates her artistic ability. Sameen is a Visual Artist, Art Academic and an Art Curator.

    Sadaa Bahar by Sameen Agha

    We were quite impressed by the promise our local artists have shown, time and again. At EVOCATIONS, the rollercoaster ride of emotions beginning with terror and gloom, meandered through various different themes. Our imagination was definitely put to the test to make for an engaging experience. We look forward to similar art exhibitions like this at O Art Space, where emerging artists can showcase their work in an environment that is conducive to experimentation. The reasonably priced artwork of these four gifted artists is still on display till the 16th of May. We recommend all art lovers to check it out in person. There is something in it for both visual and verbal thinkers alike.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021