Zarina delights again with ‘Saavan’

Zarina Khurshid’s painting exhibition ‘Saavan’ launched on Monday at the Al Hamra Arts Gallery giving space to a fresh display of vividly coloured paintings mostly done in mixed media. The exhibition was a success as several art lovers flowed in to view the display, including collectors, students, and others. Quoting the esteemed BA Kuraishi (late), who was the former Chairman of the Lahore Museum, he describes Zarina Khurshid as “an ardent and accomplished artist, her themes are Pakistani and familiar, but her expression is individual. In a semi-abstract style, and using brilliant colours, and bold lines, she conveys a delightful sense of movement, rhythm and harmony.”
Zarina is an award-winning artist in painting and creative calligraphy. She has also served the Lahore Museum as Keeper Ethnological Collections and as an Education Officer. She has written research articles and a new Ethnological Gallery was introduced by her in 1986 which created interest among foreigners and local people.
The centre of interest in her paintings is prepared by the water based or mixed media with luminous colours and a thick black outline. Her thick outlines are peaceful and convey a delightful sense of movement. In the end the painting is given a crackled effect in such a way that the bright colours seem to ooze out through the wax cracks. No artist in the past or present has carried out this technique which she has introduced. The cultural richness in her paintings is admired by Pakistani art lovers, along with foreigners, which firms her belief that all forms of art and especially paintings have universal visual language and appeal.