A group exhibition of three miniature artists titled “Misplacements, Displacements” is opening today (Thursday) at the Gallery-6 in Islamabad that will showcase 29 exquisite artworks.
All three artists, Amna Hashmi, Abid Aslam and Hira Zubair have graduated from the National College of Arts, from 2005 to 2011 respectively.
Amna Hashmi is a teacher of miniature painting at the NCA Rawalpindi Campus and has acquired fame not only because of her masterly skills but also for introducing her self-styled characters and very unusual subjects. Interestingly, in this exhibition, Amna has contributed only three miniature works on a very unique subject “Io and the creation of Istalas”. The remaining 8 out of her 11 artworks are not miniatures but paintings on situations involving misplacement; these may be a surprise for her fans and art lovers. She calls them “convenient fairytales”.
Discussing the subject of these paintings, Amna said, “Quite often things don’t go the way one wants them to. For example, the local seer has sighted the moon at the wrong time bringing about the festival of the moon far too early, the Little King (one of her characters) had a burst of inspiration at the worst hour, resulting in the loss of a head of a trusty general, or simply those accursed militants showing up at one’s doorstep with highly flammable presents in their hands. And when all things run afoul, who are the people to blame? The fairies, of course! Devilish tricksters and enchanters, living amongst us since times of old, hiding away yet always there. Whoever can resist their evil wiles? No one at all! So obviously we’re not to blame for our actions! It’s always the others.”
Abid Aslam, who hails from Lahore, is interested in exploring the role of links and networks existing within a socio-economic/political system. His images are borrowed from existing concepts to create a particular mechanism. By (dis)placing the individual’s concept, he tries to question their position and relationship with each other. What happens when a certain part (human or ideas) of the mechanism design goes missing?
Commenting on his miniature paintings, he said, “Our society is based on such endless probabilities, which are responsible to the ever-changing domestic and international scenario. By experimenting with the images, I try to explore these various situations. Through the juxtaposition of these images with(in) and against each other, I strive to understand relationships according to the rules of such socio-political structures – What collaborative efforts we invest in, in order to achieve our everyday tasks? What kind of role various efforts play no matter how big or small? And how does it effect the bigger picture of the communal mechanism?” The focus in all of his works is on the subject and imagery.
Hira Zubair is the youngest artist in the group, who graduated in 2011. Her ideas and concepts evolve with the topsy-turvy current situations and problems being faced by the people in the country. She relates the imagery and subjects with the history and present conditions and attempts to provide solutions. Hira said “I firmly believe that artists can provide awareness to the public with their conceptual visual skills. My work is for all people of Pakistan. I think that there is a great responsibility on our shoulders, as artists and this is what I want to portray in my art. My work is based on politics and for moving towards a soft revolution in Pakistan.”
Besides the message that Hira wants to convey, she maintains a focus on her minute brushwork and interplay of colours to create the desired impression on the audience, a skill that a painter has to manifest to be categorised as quality miniature artist.
The exhibition will continue until 19 October, daily, at House#624, 44th Street, G-9/1, from 11 am to 7 pm, including Sundays.
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