‘Where’s the heart?’ opens at Rohtas 2

By Anjum Gill

LAHORE: Artists and art enthusiasts praised abstract paintings by Shireen Kamran at her solo exhibition titled ‘Where’s the heart?’ on Friday at the Rohtas 2 Art Gallery.

There were 25 works exhibited in oil on canvas, oil and wax on panel and on board, and oil on panel. The price of her works ranges from Rs 6,500 to Rs 12,000. “My work draws on the Sufi tradition. Marks, drawings and calligraphic elements in my paintings appear unconsciously. Once the work is brought to completion, I go through a period of contemplation and meditation with the works, exploring, rationalising and searching for encoded information,” said Ms Kamran.

Commenting on Ms Kamran’s works, former principal of the National College of Arts (NCA) and owner of the gallery Saleema Hashmi, said, “I came across her work some seven months ago and was entranced. The surface is very sensuous and the colours are saturated, subtle and meditated. There is a great deal of confidence in her works. They speak of inner repose.”

Artist and critic Quddus Mirza described Ms Kamran’s work as “different, very mature and very well painted”. “The way the colours are applied shows the artist’s sensitivity and tremendous talent,” he said, adding Ms Kamran had used everything in a poetic and lyrical manner. “The viewers enjoy looking at the paintings even if there is nothing obvious on the surface,” he added.

Art teacher Rukhshanda Atawar said the works were a treat to watch. “After a long time I have come across a good work,” she said, describing the application of colours by the artist as nice. “There is form in her works, though not obvious. The palette is very interesting,” she said.

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