Another Feast of Colours at Karachi’s Canvas Art Gallery

Jumbo Editorial Team

 The Canvas Art Gallery, leading the way in the promotion of arts and artists, has become the talk of the town by hosting yet another group exhibition in Karachi which has been described as a Feast of Colours which will continue until August 8.

The artists whose work is on display include, among others, the likes of Bashir Mirza, Gulgee, Ahmed Pervaiz, Iqbal Husain and Jamil Naqsh. The newcomers like Quddus Mirza, Mohammad Zeeshan and Moeen Farooqui are also making waves of sorts. 

Iqbal Husain’s delightful oil-on-board landscape is one of the major attractions, having a kind of serenity to the whole scene that appears surreally real. The artist has been able to personify the greenery in the picture. 

The verdant land and trees come across as living objects in a tranquil background. Another eye-catching exhibit on display is Ahmed Pervaiz’s. The artwork done in mixed media, according to the curator of the exhibition, is an early 1970s piece. The creative vigour with which he used to paint is evident in the painting.

Gulgee’s swirling colours, infused with the spiritual aspect of life, reiterate his position as one of the significant artists of his generation, as does Bashir Mirza with his non-objective, symbolic work. Canvas has done it once more. 

Founded by Sameera Raja in 1999, Canvas has been recognized as one of the leading art galleries in Pakistan which remains committed to the discovery, support, development and promotion of Pakistani art and artists. 

It has served to focus on the new art of Pakistan, particularly by the modern and contemporary artists. 

The Canvas Art Gallery, located in Clifton, has been proudly displaying works of cutting edge nature and experimental quality, ranging from paintings, sculptures, digital prints to installations and video installations.

With two shows a month, Canvas is a stimulating and unique visual arts venue with a constantly changing inventory of approximately 1,000 original works by more than 100 established and emerging Pakistani artists. 

The iron-willed Sameera Raja, who was trained as an architect from the famed National College of Arts, Lahore, has worked exceptionally hard to evolve Canvas which also has collaboration with a number of galleries in USA, UK and Middle East in order to promote contemporary art of Pakistan. 

Her future plans include publishing a series of books/monographs on Pakistani art and artists.

She deserves to be credited for having put together a really marvellous art gallery in Karachi.