Masterpieces of trio go on display at PNCA

Islamabad:In a world often rushing toward the future, three remarkable artists have paused to capture the fleeting, powerful instances that shape lives and societies. The exhibition ‘A Moment in Time,’ inaugurated Monday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in collaboration with ForArtSake, invites visitors on a creative journey through memory, identity, and collective experience.

The exhibition, featuring the works of Amna I. Pataudi, Rahat Naveed Masud, and Jimmy Engineer, brings together voices from different backgrounds and cities — each with a unique artistic vocabulary but united by a common thread: the ability to reflect the human experience onto canvas and paper. Over the next week, visitors will witness a rich tapestry of emotions, histories, and reflections where the past, present, and future converge.

Speaking at the opening, Amna I. Pataudi shared the inspiration behind the exhibition. "There is a moment in everyone’s life that defines them. Through this exhibition, we have tried to gather those moments," she explained. Her work, using oil on canvas and mixed media, captures the essence of the human experience, exploring themes of hope, resilience, and the pursuit of beauty.

“My art reflects my own journey, a way of processing emotions, and finding solace in the creative process. To me, art is a universal language that transcends words, cultures and borders. It is a powerful tool for self-expression, storytelling and connection,” she said adding that “your scars and your past — you don't forget them. You carry them forward,” she said, elaborating the thought process behind “A Moment in Time.”

Rahat Naveed Masud’s contribution is a compelling series of self-portraits — a deeply introspective and layered exploration of self and society. Using oil on canvas, compressed charcoal, pastel, oil on board and silver leaf and silk screen printing on paper, Masud maps a narrative that is both personal and collective. Her portraits are not just reflections of an individual but mirrors to a society grappling with its cultural, social, and political nuances. “Visual arts are not appreciated as the performing art, music or literature. The reason may be that it is a new field as compared to other art forms and was limited to courts for a long time,” she commented.

Jimmy Engineer, a name synonymous with passion for social causes and national pride, brings to life the memory of the Partition of the Subcontinent through his masterworks. Using oil on board and silk screen printing techniques, Engineer’s paintings — like ‘The Last Burning Train’ and scenes of weary refugees resting under trees — resonate hauntingly with current political realities. “I call myself a servant of Pakistan,” his message said, “because all my life, I have served my country and taken pride in it.” For Engineer, ‘A Moment in Time’ is a tribute to the sacrifices made during the country's founding — a reminder for today’s generation to honour and remember the struggles that paved the way for their future. Visitors to ‘A Moment in Time’ will find themselves transported — challenged to remember, to feel, and to see the world anew through the eyes of three masterful artists.