NCA graduates explore stories, people, actions

Islamabad: ‘Embankment,’ an exhibition of contemporary miniatures, 3D works, and installations by eight young graduates of Rawalpindi’s National College of Arts (NCA) opens at Nomad today (Tuesday).

The participating artists are Sanam Seema Mangi, Bilal Kazmi, Ayesha Shuja, Amira Khalid, Ayesha Ashraf, Fatma Manzar, Safwan Bashir, and Adil Riaz. Reflecting on the exhibits, the gallery’s executive director Nageen Hyat said, “Here, skill mingles with creativity—whether in fine drawings, light boxes, delicate crochet, installation, subtle tones, understated hues or well chosen media. A short video connects all lyrically to mesh the energy.”

The artists engage viewers in multiple explorations of stories, people, and actions. The art works gesture past the images, engaging the viewer into examining the social and personal references that serve as a metaphor of bigger concepts and issues. “The social narrative of this group depicts the norms we are witnessing in our society, the daily struggle of self-image for us and for the society. Each artist has his or her own distinct portrayal of creativity,” Nageen added.

Sanam Mangi’s work focuses on the continuous journey between the conscious and unconscious state of mind. Bilal Kazmi’s work is based on a series of illustrations depicting imaginative characters inspired by the tradition of wall chalking. Ayesha Shuja’s work is a social comment on how the reactions received by an overweight person have taken a medical turn. She takes inspiration from X-rays and medical books.

Ayesha Ashraf’s amalgamation of crochet and miniature painting takes the viewer on a meditative journey where the interweaving of forms, colours, and materials with colorful patterns effectively explores the spontaneous thought process of the artist. Fatma Manzar’s idea revolves around a girl's identity being compromised after marriage. She reflects on how, as opposed to the ideal whereby partners in marriage complement each other’s growth, it turns into the husband usurping the wife of her individuality. She highlights the crumbling state of marriage as an institution.

Adil Riaz addresses fear, loss, and traumas faced by the Hazara tribe. His work projects a state of constant tension, confusion and frustration by a group of people confined within a restricted territory known as Meri Abad. Amira Khalid’s work takes viewers on a voyage of the unwanted, using the phenomenon of gaze.