It is not a common sight for an art lover who goes to an art gallery and finds quality paintings along with equally quality sculpture work. The viewers will surely have a daunting task at Nomad Gallery to decide which work was greater than the other—paintings or sculptures made by artist, Asad-ur-Rehman. Interpreting human feelings with riots of colours on his canvas, and yielding to an urge to initiate a dialogue culture through his sculptures, a France-based Pakistani artist, Asad-ur-Rehman, has put on display his new collection of 5 paintings and 24 sculptures in an exhibition held at Nomad Gallery here on Sunday.
Through the exhibit entitled “Resistance”, the expressionist painter and sculptor, in his 24 exquisite contemporary artworks, has tirelessly explored colour relationships with countless interwoven brush strokes showcasing strong and exuberant style of creative dialogue and diversity.Asad, who is residing in France for the last three decades, paints rapidly and with force on his canvasses in an effort to show his feelings and emotions. The spontaneity of his approach towards his work seems to be drawn from his creative yet unconscious mind. In all, 5 paintings of the artist done in ‘oil-on-canvas’ and ‘acrylic and oil-on-canvas’ highlight artist’s aesthetic sense besides telling tales from the life, developing all around. Asad’s work is generally characterised by a strong dependence on what appears to be accident and chance, but which is actually planned.
As an artist obsessed with the need to express observations of life around and his inner feelings through his work, Asad engages with ideas and issues, including the quest for cultural, national and spiritual identity in these conflicting times. His aesthetic layering of dialogues overlapping with tradition complements the newest platform on the art scenario. The artist is, however, less concerned with monumental expression than with character and emotion. Asad’s 24 sculptures made of mixed materials, mix metal, steel, and iron including alloys, emphasise details of texture surfaces and illustrate un-finishedness. Very devoted to his craft, Asad uses the same sculptural elements again and again, in different combination, to achieve best results.
In sculpting, the artist has turned away from the idealism of decorative beauty. His sculptures exist for their own sake. In his present exhibition the detail and structure of his sculptures is impressive and inspiring.
The artist appears to be influenced by the European aesthetics, particularly the French. “He has been living and studying in France for three decades, and this is the primary reason why the French influence is predominant in his works,” observed Nomad Gallery Director Nageen Hyat.
Hyat said the work of Asad is very strong. “Perhaps the artist believes that abstract art is a way to achieve what is really important and each medium of expression is, whether painting, engraving, sculpture or sculpture jewelry (which he has also designed) has its own order of being.” The artist while having a stroll in the gallery with this scribe said as a sculptor he is more concerned about human characters and emotions. “My abstract works, made of mixed materials motivate people to resist. And he who resists once, always resists for his rights- and that’s what the title of this exhibition is all about,” said Asad-ur-Rehman, adding that his work was a “labour of love”.
The exhibition of Asad’s paintings and sculptures would continue till November 22 at the Nomad Gallery, 22, Justice Abdul Rashid Avenue, Sector F-6/1.
