An exhibition of Saira Dar’s art works was held at the artist’s residence on Monday February 4. It was attended by a variety of people including artists such as Rahat Naveed, Zara Ahmed, Tania Sohail, Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi and others. The works displayed the versatility of the artist as various mediums were used and an interesting amalgam of topics was shared with the viewers.
The works on display includes three distinct categories; those that involve contemplation of a more personal nature, others that relate to the artist’s vision of her country’s predicaments, and yet another category of unconventional self expression that is both playful and enigmatic. While the first two categories employ acrylic paint as well as mixed media, with colour being the most distinctive feature of the symbolic discourse, the third category is constructed with collage elements, particularly small opened out cardboard boxes of a variety of shapes, hues and textures. It is on the surface of these that other intriguing found objects, both natural and manmade, are utilised to create minimalistic compositions that express a variety of thought and ideas. A few poems, both in Urdu and English, that have been written by the artist at different occasions and which have now been shared with the viewers of the exhibition, can also lend some insight into many of the art works.
