Written by: Muhammad Hamza
Posted on: September 27, 2024 | 
| 中文
A Silent Auction by Ramsha Khan
In these contemporary times, there are many social issues, from empowering acts of freedom to changing the patterns of our lifestyle. A number of empowered women artists gathered at a gallery in Lahore called Numaishgah, where they hosted a brilliant set of women who have stepped into this evolving course of life.
We read about their lives and visualize the distorted reality they portray through their artworks. At times, we begin to relive the experiences they express, from highlighting human trafficking to flawed dominance in our cultures, to extracting textures of fresco painting while infusing them with portraits of women.
Untitled II (Detail) by Farhatulain Kiani
Through different monochrome hues, using only reds or blues to convey specific meanings, a few artists stand out:
Hira Noor Baig explores the connection of women within a community and how this relationship often fades over time. The hue red illustrates the various textures of relationships, reflecting her personal experiences with the outside world.
In contrast, Minahil Khan employs hues of blue to represent intimacy—whether within personal relationships or broader interactions. Her work captures the hardships and chaotic indifferences that arise from intricate intimacy patterns. In her artwork, "I’m Turning the Blue Around You," she creates a motion picture of love. The jumbled, convulsed figures convey a scene where physical love may not be enough, and the blue signifies a unique event.
I'am Turning the Blue Around You by Minahil Khan
Farhatulain Kiani explores the connection between humankind and nature, while remaining sensitive to the feminine experience. She likens a flower petal to a woman's skin, emphasizing delicacy. It is a wonder how women retain the true essence of their gender and form a constructive bridge between themselves and nature. Her artworks reveal a profound depth, dissolving the personality of a woman into nature and earthly matters.
Fatima Ateeq uses the darkest hues in her figure portraits, where facial emotions highlight the dilemma of accepting or denying the loss of a loved one. We understand that the loss can halt us, and the pain within doesn’t dissipate easily. Over months or years, we may learn to manage the grief, but the emptiness left by the lost one remains forever. It is inevitable to find oneself in the darkest of pits, with the melancholic feeling of distortion enveloping us. Her figure portraits emphasize the aloneness that cloaks us, where only patience allows us to endure.
Conversation II by Fatima Ateeq
There are also surrealistic approaches to showcasing the empowering nature of womanhood. Artists exhibit intricate observations to highlight details in their work, whether through hyper-realistic flowers or beautifying patterns inspired by fresco painting.
Hifza Khan’s piece, "Traditional Elegance," exemplifies contemporary miniature art, featuring fresco patterns that reflect rich cultural heritage alongside modern style. She gives her artworks a modern twist with old-school architecture, reminiscent of windows from a haveli or a verandah.
Traditional Elegance II by Hifza Khan
Mahwish Shaukat’s intricate paintings reveal her deep connection to the minute details in her art. The blooming rose-like flower emerging from a human skull embodies the mind's interaction with life. She explains that her current works, titled "Emergence," reflect everyone’s journey to self-discovery. This journey requires breaking old habits to rejuvenate ourselves in a contemporary gray space, achievable only through unlearning.
Ramsha Khan’s work is a call for action, focusing on human trafficking and the abuse faced by victims. The mental and physical torture inflicted on them, leaves them distorted and impaired. This issue is a significant concern in our media and society, yet often unaddressed. Ramsha advocates for the establishment of rehabilitation centers, emphasizing the urgent need for change. Her blue-curved female figures poignantly depict the pain and emotional trauma experienced by victims.
Saba Haroon explores hope, love and resilience through the story of a Japanese girl named Sadako, inspired by the legend of Senbazuru. Her intricate artwork features an origami boat, symbolizing resilience, as numerous boats traverse the sea in her depiction. A woman creates her own path to peace and harmony, embodying determination to achieve her goals. It is a story of spreading love and regaining hope in various forms and textures.
Rise by Saba Haroon
As they say, "A woman is a full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform."
Sabahat Nisar captures the bustling city of Lahore, with its local markets and narrow alleyways brimming with life. She depicts how one might struggle through tough times, whether as a vendor or an observer. Her artwork illustrates how the visual of a busy street reveals the rich heritage and culture of Lahore.
Zainab Aziz, who has spent most of her life outside Pakistan, portrays the social differences between the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Despite the distinct cultures, she illustrates a bridge between two women of different races, emphasizing that while their backgrounds may differ, their experiences as women unite them. She finds it challenging to navigate these cultural relationships through her artwork.
Sujjal Kiyani is a profound artist who uses metaphorical imagery to showcase societal issues. She reveals how men, often seen as protectors, can become predators. Her work features the Mallika at the center, symbolizing the beauty of nature and peace, while surrounding male figures have monkey faces, representing manipulation and misuse of strength and power.
Dance of a Wounded Peacock (Detail) by Sujjal Kayani
Sujjal has shared a context poetry for her current exhibited series:
“Mallika! The spectators are here, in the hope
I pour the drink called shame, again longing,
For them to be drunk in repentance.
Restless and chanting
Come out! In the dimness of consciousness,
Hiding our ugly reflection from the naked mirror, we are waiting.
Carry your pitcher of complaints, adorn in angry pearls,
Come! Pour us your promised wine.
Dancing in solace, this body is bound by the order of the hereafter,
O beloved! What wineglass did we kiss that provoked these defiant eyes to speak?
From the river of Eve, nightly she came
And filled it with her tears, each droplet screams the tale of dreariness.
Feel their pain, sorrow, and mountain of rage in your brazen soul
And become dust at the door of a wounded.”
In all entirety of this exhibition, the focal point is a woman who connects, makes bridges, forms better patterns and showcases the beauty and power that should be practiced all the time, artist’s duty is sometimes to just put it out in visual fidelity in what they believe in this society. For we as a community, need to come together for fulfilling those values that have been brought to us through this exhibition. Chaos is inevitable and so is the solution to each distorted norm.
Rush by Mahwish Shaukat
Reconcile by Zainab Aziz
Working Within I (Detail) by Hira Noor Baig
Chaos by Sabahat Nisar
The artists at the gallery
A view of the exhibition at Numaishgah
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