Written by: Muhammad Hamza
Posted on: September 13, 2024 | 
| 中文
Usama Bin Murad
In this week’s episode, a gallery tucked away on the outskirts of Islamabad by the name of 8B2, and run by Fatimah Hameed, hosted four artists. Surrounded by wilderness and a lot of greenery, she has converted one of her chicken sheds into a contemporary, minimal barn-like gallery with large windows that open onto a vegetable farm that surrounds her home. The gallery is kept minimal with white-painted bricks and a basic floor, with a barn door leading outdoors. Daylight wanders freely in the space, optimizing the exhibition experience to a whole different level.
Usama Bin Murad
Fatimah Hameed is a pioneer from the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, who started off her journey as a painter on silk. After her education in miniature art, she has been working as a craftswoman and a teacher in her earlier life, hosting local Pakistani artists at her gallery space.
In this exhibition, she has curated a wide range of furniture, artists, photography and paintings. The included artists are as follows: Ilona Atelier is one of the frequently liked interior designers who has worked with dyed fabric lamps and raw wooden blocks as base materials. These elements certainly uplift the vintage look of a side table or corner. As shown in the visual, the pleasing design of the lamp is inspired by modern art, while still holding a strong vintage appeal.
Ilona has worked on embossing floral patterns on the bases of her chairs or tables in red and sea green hues, which are quite rare to see nowadays. The imprints on wood with color give a Victorian-style furniture feel that brings a subtle, soft energy to the room. The red hue of the flowers captures the eye instantly, making it more appealing.
Ilona Atelier
Usama Bin Murad is another furniture designer showcased in this group exhibition. He has explored mosaic work on wood with finesse, creating polished pieces with intricate details, from tables to stools and more. These pieces hold a particular grace with soft mosaic work embedded in the large wooden tops.
Usama has also worked on lounge furniture with short-heighted tables and matte black steel holdings, reflecting an industrial design. The stools are rounded with a neat finish and polish, adding color to the room. His works exhibit a fusion between mosaic and industrial design wooden structures, making them art pieces in their own right.
Usama Bin Murad
Renaissance Nest of Tables is one of his signature style pieces, including three different sizes that fit under each other to save space for storing them in the corner and can later be used accordingly. The polished finish is a breathtaking center of attention in a lounge.
Renaissance Nest of Tables by Usama Bin Murad
Ali Zaidi, a thinker and visual artist working abroad, has been inspired by nature and compiled a directory of photographs and watercolor paintings. He fuses them with pastels and color pencils, creating unique colored palette drawings of tree barks. The elements in his style of paintings allow viewers to immerse themselves in a visual nostalgia.
Zaidi has been working around London, observing the greens around his habitat. His love for flowers has always drawn him, leading him to paint in watercolors and create a unique texture. His approach has a soft, surreal quality with vivid colors and pastels applied like maladaptive textures.
First mist of the fall by Ali Zaidi
The landscapes painted by Ali feature a soft blur in the background, with a wash of light-toned colors and a focus on the flower or tree trunk as the highlight, as if it has been photographed. The weary strokes resemble impressions. His prints of photography are in detailed achromatic appearances, drawing viewers into an abyss of nostalgia.
Haveli Craft & Barcode hand-spun and woven table mats and fabrics have been intricately woven for delicate dinner table curations, perfect and long-lasting. Barcode has been producing organic soaps for better hygiene and peak scents, which do not harm the skin or environment. They have crafted a wide range of different kinds of soaps.
The entire space has hosted a unique blend of artists, ranging from wood crafts to hand-crafted cloths, creating a beautiful home. These artists are seasoned in their unique style of crafting and express their love for different mediums in the best possible way. It’s absolutely a marvelous experience that can’t be missed over the weekend.
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