Karachi Women have been subjected to over-protection in our culture, especially in the most under developed areas, which has confined much of their talent and skills to their homes. “Behind the window, there is a woman as well, trying to steal a glimpse of the outer world,” referring to a portrait, said artist Shakeel Siddiqui while talking to The News at the opening ceremony of his exhibition “Beyond the Surface 7” at the Artscene Gallery on Thursday. “I have used simple metaphors to draw a picture that could be easily interpreted by a viewer so that the message could be easily communicated.” He was optimistic about the prospects of artists in Karachi, saying the city had once again become a hub of cultural and art activities. “I hate it when the city is subjected to violence and aggression due to some so-called political activities.” Talking to The News, senior artist Mashkoor Raza termed the artwork super-realistic. “Shakeel Siddiqui is a super-realist who has captured real-life scenes on canvas.” Talking about the distinction between realistic and abstract art, he said abstract art was the highest point of imagination for an artist where he could generate meanings through some strokes on a canvas. “It is true that abstract art is the ultimate form for an artist, but the art should be able to produce a meaningful message, rather than communicate some undefined feelings.” Artist S M Naqvi, talking to The News, said Siddiqui belonged to the lot of artists who not only knew the meaning of colours, but could also feel them. “There is sadness and emptiness in the portraits, but the use of colours has shined their outlooks, appealing to a viewer to look into them for a long period of time.” The exhibition will remain open till December 3.
