Unseen Visions: Contemporary Painting in Pakistan

Unbeknown to many in the West, where the press tends to emphasize Pakistan's political turmoil and violent struggle with Islamic extremism, Pakistan is a diverse and vibrant country with a lively contemporary arts scene. Now, for the first time in Hawaii, the East-West Gallery presents contemporary works by 12 important artists who epitomize the creativity, diversity, and vitality of modern Pakistan.

Curated by the EWC Gallery's Michael Schuster and coordinated by Islamabad gallery owner and Center alumnus Dr. Arjumand Faisel, the "Unseen Visions" exhibition emphasizes contemporary issues among artists and contextualizes the works in relationship to traditional themes and motifs.

The artists featured in the exhibition are: Meher Afroz, Abrar Ahmed, Sana Arjumand, Rashid Arshed, Akram Dost, Ahmed Khan, Masood A. Khan, Ali Kazim, Mudassar Manzoor, R.M. Naeem, Ghulam Rasool and Mughees Riaz.

Birthplace of one of the oldest civilizations on earth, Mohenjodaro, Pakistan has been invaded and ruled by Aryans, Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Central Asians and the British, all of whom have left a legacy of varied artistic practices. Today, Pakistani artists often combine figurative and abstract motifs to produce fascinating hybrids, despite misperceptions of Islamic prohibitions against figurative art.

In the initial years after Pakistan's independence in 1947, most art depicted Mughal courtly traditions, romantic folk images and illustrations of poetry. In the 1950s and 1960s many artists were influenced by the modernist movements of Europe. The 1970s and 1980s saw a period of national and regional political turmoil, including war in Afghanistan to oust the Soviets. This political and social upheaval had far-reaching effects which deeply touched artists and led to the emergence of new thought-provoking imagery.

Since then, artists in Pakistan have widened the scope of their vision and work. Contemporary work deals in multiple spheres, often using historical and cultural references. Artists are not only discovering new horizons in aesthetics but aggressively displaying their responses to political issues, social problems, human rights and international injustices. While some artists focus on social issues such as women's status, sexuality, environment, poverty and hunger, others focus on issues of spirituality, aesthetics and the natural world.

More Information
Michael Schuster, Curator, 944-7543, schustem@EastWestCenter.org, http://arts.EastWestCenter.org

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