Creative strokes

Exhibition

Recently, artist Ayesha Siddiqui exhibited her abstract art at Koel Gallery, Karachi. You! takes a look...

Painting exhibitions are always a breath of fresh air for art lovers. This is because each artist has his own unique style and every painting has a different story to tell. The charisma behind the art work lies in the concoction of thoughts and experiences of the artist that become evident in the art work.

However, when it comes to paintings, there are numerous styles that one must pick from. One of the art styles that everyone seems to be raving about these days is abstract art. This art form has become popular mainly because the artist is able to easily express him/herself through this style of painting, while that very art work could have ten different meanings depending on the viewer’s perception. Luckily, Pakistani artists seem to be mastering this art form and have produced many works that are worth being appreciated. One such artist is Ayesha Siddiqui who recently had an exhibition in Koel Art Gallery, Karachi. Read on to find out more about the art form and the exhibition.

Abstract art

Abstract art is non-figurative and non-objective art. This form of painting uses a visual language of shape, form, colour and line to create a composition. This is the opposite of painting scenery or portraits that require the artist to paint what he sees right in front of him/her. Abstract art came into being by the end of the 19th century when many artists felt a need to create a new kind of art which would encompass the fundamental changes taking place in technology, science and philosophy. The sources from which individual artists drew their theoretical arguments were diverse, and reflected the social and intellectual preoccupations in all areas of Western culture at that time.

Abstraction basically implies creation of a painting that is far from reality. This is done by using geometry, figurative or linear drawings. Much of the art of earlier cultures - signs and marks on pottery, textiles, and inscriptions and paintings on rock - were simple, geometric and linear forms which might have had a symbolic or decorative purpose. It is at this level of visual meaning that abstract art communicates. For instance, one can enjoy the beauty of Chinese calligraphy or Islamic calligraphy without being able to read it.

The exhibition

Recently, an exhibit was held at Koel Gallery that showcased the recent abstract work by artist Ayesha Siddiqui. She is a contemporary Pakistani artist who got her doctorate in Fine Arts from the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan in 2014. She has received gold medals in M.A. Fine Arts from the Punjab University and in Masters of Computer Science from The National College, Lahore (University of South Asia). During her distinguished academic career she has received six gold medals.

Ayesha Siddiqui also has the honour of representing Pakistan in the 13th, 14th and 16th Asian Art Biennale (2008, 2010 and 2014 respectively) in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the 3rd and 4th Asian Art Expo in Beijing, China; 2011 and 2012. She has participated in many solo and group shows in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Jordan, China, New Zealand and U.K. Her paintings are included in many important public, corporate and private collections in many countries. Seems like a fantastic resume doesn’t it? Well, it is her reputation and past work that managed to pull in a large crowd of art lovers to her recent exhibition.

The exhibition titled ‘Camouflage’ was dedicated to the memory of Imran Mir; an artist, sculptor, designer and advertising trendsetter. The artwork presented was mixed media on canvas and included some interesting pieces with numerous colour themes. While some paintings had intricate strokes that portrayed serenity, others were loud with prominent colours and deep strokes. However, it was interesting to see that each art work had an underlying delicacy to it that spoke of the artist’s strength and attention to detailing. Ayesha has never failed to deliver in the past and she continues to create pieces that will surely earn Pakistan a name internationally.