Running away with your imagination

Comprising 18 artworks, ‘Imagining Immortals’, the first solo show by
Rawalpindi-based artist Komal Shahid Khan, opens at Artscene Gallery

Imagination is a widely varying phenomenon and no two human beings have identical manifestations of it. In fact, the manifestations imagination translates into are beyond explanation; words don’t suffice to describe those images.

This is precisely the message the young Rawalpindi-based artist, Komal Shahid Khan, has for the viewers through her exhibition of miniatures titled, “Imagining Immortals”. 

Even though her colours are very sober and pastel, they convey a message. One could certainly say that Komal is a lyrical colourist.

The 18 works of hers adorning the walls of the Artscene Art Gallery in Clifton tell exactly that story.

The opening work of her exhibition is a small elephant amid, random, waving strokes. Initially, one is at a loss to comprehend the connection but, as the artist puts it, the wavy patterns are supposed to be representative of time, imagining what it would be in the future. 

As she puts it, her works are traditional, experimental, and contemporary and carry with them a flair for abstractism. It is remarkable to see how she puts the abstract ideas on paper and translates them into something “material”.

“I characterise my work as the ‘lyric’, being elusive, suggestive, and subtle, as comprehensible in due time and as moving, but not immediate in impact,” says Komal. 

There’s variation in her works too and this is borne out by her portrait of a Mughal prince in miniature. She seems to be really adept at using her colours while painting the chiseled features and the minute, meticulous detail. There’s nothing abstract in this work.

This is the first solo exhibition of the promising young Rawalpindi-based artist, though she’s earlier participated in group shows.

Komal, who is a gold medalist from the Fatima Jinnah University, Rawalpindi, has specialised in miniatures. She very adroitly translates abstract notions into pictures.

The exhibition, which opened Thursday evening, continues up until November 3 and is a must-see for lovers of abstract art.