Painting exhibition of ‘Safeer-e-Mashriq’
Islamabad – Exquisitely delightful is perhaps the word that best describes the latest exhibition by Hajra Mansur, which opens on 20 October at Nomad Art Gallery in Islamabad. Around 30 art pieces on display endorse that famous Modern Romanticist Hajra Mansur has rightly been awarded the title of Safeer-e-Mashriq (Ambassador of East), because her paintings are indeed window to the magnificent eastern culture and tradition.
The enchanting women along with birds in Hajra’s paintings do not only portray the exquisiteness often associated with the eastern women, but the artworks also serve as one of the great preservers of our hereditary cultural elements.
Hajra is one of the most popular, senior women artists of Pakistan and her style is inspired by tradition yet rendered with modern aesthetics. “She is a romanticist and her luminous, doe-eyed women are characteristic of her style of quality artwork” said Nageen Hyat, curator of the Nomad Gallery. Besides an accomplished artist, Hajra is also an inspiration for scores of art students and art lovers in the sub-continent, she added. The exhibition would continue till Oct. 31 (10am-7pm).
Using mediums such as water color wash, acrylic, and brush drawing, Hajra has added a magical touch in the eastern women in her paintings. Hajra Mansur’s creations are being given honour in the brightest chapters in the history of our country as one of the great preservers of our hereditary culture.
Her paintings carry similar values of controlled design and at the same time evoke a depth of aesthetic sensation with varieties of technical activities. Her paintings have been exhibited in important galleries of Germany and France where she was highly admired by the critical circle of famous artists. In the words of Mansur Rahi, a veteran artist and Hajra’s husband: “Hajra Mansur reserves rareness for her venture into the new world of modern innovation in oriental school. The compromised appearance of Traditional elements in oriental painting seems to be transformed into the creative activity of sophistication, which proves her acceptance of challenges in the modern movement of art today.”
She is the winner of top awards in National/International exhibitions and specifically “Chughtai Award” in 1996. In year 2009 she has been awarded “Pride of Performance” by the President of Pakistan in recognition of her meritorious services towards the development of art in Pakistan. At present she is living in Islamabad working in studio, running her own gallery and museum. Instead of confiding her talent in her own self she is busy in introducing new phases and techniques to the young generations in the spirit of promoting art in Pakistan.