Written by: Mirza Salam Ahmed - Posted on: September 26, 2014 | 
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Google Translation: اُردو | 中文
Tanzara gallery showcased the artwork of Aqeel Solangi this week at the opening of his latest art work this Thursday. Once the event began, the gallery quickly turned into a nest for art aficionados and media, who flocked around Solangi’s pieces as story-addicted children might gather around a fire at night to listen to a story – and the storyteller had much to say.
Solangi, who spent his time in many different workshops in China during this past year, was in the mood for poetic celebration and the medium of expression he opted for was paint on paper. The man who, at such a young age, has become a maestro at bringing together wisdom and observation on canvas, enlightened the audience with his work on how the passage of time can leave an artistic impact on the human consciousness.
Most of Solangi’s artwork envisioned infinite space, centred by thoughts on how a certain place and time can leave a mark on the memory. This was denoted through abstract ontological symbolism mixed with intricate art techniques on acrylic. The painter often became a passionate poet where he would sing sublime hymns of praise of nature and civilization from his travels in China and Pakistan.
The techniques used by the artist varied from frame to frame. A black or dark backdrop was mostly used, yet Solangi magnificently pulled off the use of almost all colours from the spectrum. The usage of floral patterns alongside ancient architecture and natural beauty was a common sight in his paintings. From sweeping wide brush strokes to detailed finesse, Solangi truly proved that his colours on the canvas could encapsulate the meaning of living in a passing moment.
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The main hall of the gallery was illuminated by a gigantic master piece – a typical art form of Solangi’s work. In an instant, the subconscious perception captured how human sanctuaries can stand the test of time. I gazed at the piece for quite a while, and something seemed amiss; I wasn’t alone on this thought. There was a general curious confusion on faces around this special work.
Curiosity kills the cat, and I could not live without knowing. Soon enough I managed to get a private audience with Solangi himself. “Each one of these paintings has a story behind them,” Solangi explained. “This piece shows how quickly time fades away. The clouds depict the passing of time and the flowers as a fragile factor.” That was it – the missing link. The picture showed how fragile human sanctuaries were; and despite the odds were capable of defiantly standing against time.
Solangi further stated that a lot of pieces were inspired from his time in China. The use of periwinkle flowers denoted elegance. On the other hand, the Lotus flower – the symbol of Buddha - brought forth the aspect of tranquillity. With my new found knowledge I took another tour of the gallery and truly every story on the wall was worth another read.
The gallery will continue to exhibit different works of Aqeel Solangi till 14th October, 2014.
