Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: January 04, 2023 | 
| 中文
The Numb Societies by Ramsha Khan
Recently students of the Arts Council Institute of Arts & Crafts put up two different thesis displays. While the 3rd year students put up a mini display, the final-year students displayed the culmination of 4 years of studies at the show. Both shows were inaugurated by the President of Arts Council Pakistan, Mohammad Ahmed Shah, and other distinguished members of the Arts Council’s governing body, as well as the Sindh government.
The themes of the 3rd year mini thesis mostly revolved around self-discovery, self-acceptance and self-love. While all of the artwork on display was extraordinary, and given below is a round-up of the three most recognised artists from the show.
Many believe that art is the extension of the artist and it is quite difficult to separate the two. Zarnaab Baloch took this a step further and chose herself and her insecurities as her subject for her thesis titled ‘Just a Little Change’. The brushwork and mastery in Zarnaab’s paintings would have anyone mistake them as the work of a seasoned artist rather than a young student. That, combined with her self-assured style made her display the one that easily caught one’s eye from any part of the gallery. “I believe the collection has resonated so well with the viewers because there are things about our personal appearance that we are all unsure of, things that others have pointed out about us, things that we have all grown up disliking, and I’ve brought that conversation with ourselves alive on the canvas,” she said. Zarnaab believes that her true calling lies in teaching art to the young kids of Lyari and using it as a form of catharsis for them.
Rise of The Broken by Rida Ali Shah
Yasir Noor, whose collection is titled ‘Dhund’, has created miniatures revolving around fictional characters depicting a time gone by. Yasir’s work depicts his longing for the past and the family whom he never truly got to know. “My father and his previous two generations were coal miners, and I have used the stories I have heard from them and about them to depict my history and heritage. Because I lost my father at a very young age, I feel like there’s a fog between my world and his, and I am trying to remember him through that lens”. Yasir is not sure what his future would look like, he is just sure that his art and paintings are going to be a big part of it.
Unspoken by Aneela Arshad
Shahzad Baloch displayed a collection called ‘In The Flow’, depicting the performing of tasks that seem mundane but are vital in bringing one a peace of mind. “I have depicted the actions one does to achieve a state of complete satisfaction. These aren’t supposed to be earth-shattering tasks, just little things one does to feel satisfied with oneself. I am an introvert, almost a recluse. I love to be alone and find my optimal satisfaction when I spend time doing things I love.” The depth and detail in Shahzad’s art made it stand out head and shoulders above many of the other artists around him. While his subject matter was seemingly simple, his mastery of realism made his paintings almost like photographs.
The 4th Year Thesis Display carried themes of a more political nature, where responsibility meets perception. The top three artists from this display were all concerned about the burden of responsibility. I will discuss their work below.
Jawwad Jan displayed a collection called ‘Mirror Silhouettes’. “I have told the story of a family, my family. And how once there was emptiness and purposelessness, but now with my art, I will be able to herd them all into a meaningful direction and steer their futures to success.”
Mirror Silhouettes by Jawwad Jan
Ramsha Khan displayed a collection titled ‘The Numb Societies’. The collection touched upon the tough subject of sex trafficking around the world. Ramsha’s use of deep blue shades to depict the emotions of women being trafficked for sex in mere silhouettes was impressive. “I have depicted the emotions the victims of sex trafficking may feel if they are unwillingly made part of the trade. The silhouettes depict the pain and even shame that these women may feel. I was first introduced to the subject of sex trafficking in the early part of 2022, and the more I studied the subject the more it spoke to me.”
The Numb Societies by Ramsha Khan
Behzad Ahmed exhibited a collection called ‘Perceptions’. “My collection is about how perceptions lend meaning to different things in life. A piece of cloth is just that, a cloth until someone or a society as a collective gives it a certain meaning. The same cloth that was once a sign of learnedness, wisdom and power is associated with terrorism today. It is the same with any other thing in life. I have used animals to depict the relations that members of society have with one another and with the perceptions associated with them. While the tiger is shown to be violent and fierce, its eyes in my painting are telling a different story. While the panda is associated with carefreeness, it has different connotations if people choose to look deeply at the details instead of just the broader association.”
Perception by Behzad Ahmed
Overall, both displays were a testament to the fact that Pakistan has a great number of emerging artists who, with the right push, will be able to not only produce great art but also use it to hold a mirror up to our society, and the social evils that we are reluctant to recognize.
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