Royaat Gallery’s most recent exhibition “Best of Royaat,” opening on Saturday, November 10, presents a unique opportunity to see some rare treasures from Pakistani art masters. This exciting new show presents the visual breadth of Pakistan’s contemporary artists and includes several artistic traditions, such as calligraphy, landscapes, figurative works, sculpture, and others. The exhibition also displays some of the finest pieces from Royaat’s permanent collection, including works of art by Ustad Allah Bux, Gulgee as well as Colin David. The painting by Ustad Allah Bux reveals the artistic mastery of the painter, including his fine lines and use of light. In addition, the exhibition has one of the finest paintings by Gulgee on display, a dramatic piece evoking a “looking glass” with the painter’s use of bold strokes and brilliant colors. Also note-worthy is a one of Colin David’s classic figurative paintings. The exhibition also showcases the figurative master, Saeed Akhtar, with his fantastical depiction of Pakistani womanhood. The landscape paintings are one of the highlights of the show. One of the finest pieces on display is Mian Ijaz ul Hassan’s exotic cornucopia of garden delights. Ghulam Mustafa also takes part in the show and hismasterful use of diffused light provides a melancholy backdrop, highlighting the color of his landscape. Muhammad Arshad’s latest work, capturing the subtle beauty of the Punjabi landscape, is also exhibited. Arshad’s delicate work contrasts with the vibrancy of Nyla Amir’s depiction of the Flamboyant tree. From Royaat’s permanent collection, the exhibition includes two significant pieces from Kaleem Khan, capturing the poignancy of the Baloch landscape. The Best of Royaat underscores the innovation within the Pakistani art tradition, including striking sculpture by Jamal Shah named “situations.” Nahid Raza evokes the sculptural tradition in her monochromatic pieces. In addition, in the tradition of expressionism, the exhibition also includes two pieces of ethereal splendor by Amna Pataudi. The show also displays new works by Raja Changez Sultan, including two pieces evoking the northern lights. The Best of Royaat is a stunning collection of Pakistan masters and provides a rare glimpse of the works by the late Ustad Allah Bux, Gulgee, and Colin David. The diversity of the paintings on display allows the viewer to appreciate the richness and innovation of Pakistan’s artistic tradition.
