An exhibition of mixed media paintings was inaugurated at the Nairang Art Gallery on Saturday. The exhibition features paintings of Mirza Bashir Ahmed and Adil Masood Qazi. Renowned lawyer Abid Hassan Manto inaugurated the exhibition which was arranged by famous architect Nayyar Ali Dada. Speaking on the occasion, Manto appreciated efforts of the artists and said that it was good to see that poets and artists still contribute towards cultural revival.
Although the image of the country has been tarnished, artists are continuing to display their art, which should be lauded, he said. The paintings were in layers, in which there were stories which could be seen by the viewer in bits and pieces, almost like pieces of a puzzle finally coming together. Bashir said, “When I begin on a new canvas, that canvas is an empty book, it’s a story waiting to be told. I never know how it will look when it is finished.” People from various walks of life attended the exhibition and praised the artists for their unique presentation of different stuffs on canvas. One canvas consisted of multi levels of artwork of different artists including caricature.
Paintings were titled with beautiful names such as Courts’ Messenger, Feast, Untitled, Sunset and others. Around 78 paintings were displayed at the art gallery. Prices of the paintings ranged from Rs 13,800 to Rs 0.18 million. Bashir was born on January 23, 1967, in Faisalabad. He received his schooling from the Aitchison College, Lahore and graduated in 1991 from the National College of Arts, Lahore. His artistic roots were planted during his NCA days when he participated in his first group art exhibition at the Al-Hamra Art Centre, Lahore. After graduation, he started his own textile and fabrics business, Casa Bella. Fabrics, which led to changing market trends. Casa Bella Fabrics has been in Lahore for 22 years now.
I was at this exhibition, and the paintings were amazing. Very talented work. Must be seen by all Pakistanis.
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