The rhythm of vibrant colours and creative ethos make a wonderful combination for Riffat Ara Baig to express the world of emotions and happening around herself. Exhibition of her artwork titled ‘Feminine Feel’ is all set to open today (Friday) at the Gallery Louvre.
The nature painter has let herself to explore another contemporary medium for her recent artwork and that is etching on paper. As many as 22 extremely powerful art pieces invite the art lover’s aesthetical intuition to guess the emotional deficit in the man-woman relationship and with the surroundings.
Graduated from the University of the Punjab in 1995, Riffat Ara Baig has shown her creative genius while portraying the feminine emotions, the incomplete and unfulfilled aspirations. The expressionistic figurative and powerful abstract images inspire the aesthetics of onlooker, and also provoke to explore more out of it.
Riffat Ara Baig has created the visuals that are not static, and they reveal their meaningful presence in rhythmic flow of lines and curves. Unlike many other contemporary artists, she has put together diverse subjects in each of her artwork. Though, it is not a themed series of artwork, still all the artwork is knitted around the feminine exponents. To find out the melodious contours that lend a lyrical note to her paintings one has to lift the veil and peep into the hidden.
Why etching on paper? Responding to a question, she says: “In this technique of art usually sharp and bold colours are used that commonly attract every art lover. They also reflect intense feelings. Usually etchings are not very expensive and anyone can buy easily. This can be an affordable way to spread the meaningful contemporary art.” She says: “Women of our society are yet to find emotional pathways to express themselves without any fear and societal pressure. Even in the present age, mostly the female painters are hesitant to paint figurative or to portray the feminine feelings, deprivation, and the emotional deficits.”
Narrating the state of art in country, she says: “In many ways, art is still a taboo in many parts of the country. People really do not understand the objectivity in art forms. To create more space for art, we need to educate the masses. Exhibitions in the small towns and cities would enhance the scope of the art market in Pakistan while the TV and radio programmes may further increase awareness on the art’s objectivity.”
“Somehow the paintings have taken the front seat. A number of art galleries hold their regular shows in the three main metropolises; Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, but for a select group of elite. Even paintings cannot take space in most of homes in our country. Other creative mediums have yet to find their truly deserved status.”
She thinks that the art can change the intolerant society to a peaceful one if art is taught to students of all ages at government and private schools in true spirit. The students who play with colours and create shape and images of what they feel inside provide them an opportunity to exhaust their anger, Baig explains.
Baig terms herself an artist that is still in search of her soul in expressionist art, and learning to express her inner vision, feelings, and emotions; and enriching his own soul with experiments and experiences to reveal her creativity and productivity. She believes it would help change the mindset. “Art shall not only be taught as a subject only in the top-end English mediums schools. But this subject should be extended to all government schools as well with all trained and educated staff in art education. These schools should also be adequately equipped with the necessary tools and facilities.”
Riffat Ara Baig has also been teaching art to the students from junior to higher secondary school for the last 15 years. She believes: “Art can help change the outlook of schools and classrooms, and create students’ interest in studies. It also helps in bring about change in the mindset. We need creative minds and aesthetically rich and proactive citizens. Art can lead us to a vibrant society.”
