ZUBAIR QURESHI
The Pakistan National Council of Art (PNCA) is going to present a major retrospective of the work of impressionist painter Nusratji tomorrow (Monday). More than 60 paintings in oil on canvas have been exhibited in two galleries for the new show, which reflects on the artist’s evolution over the last 40 years and is titled Defining Moments. This is her first solo show at PNCA in last 15 years. Nusratji in her works gives exposure to a wide range of subjects, such as nature, portraits and the female form in her work, but is fascinated most of all by horses. According to critics, Nusratji’s paintings are an invitation to open communication between her perception and the viewer’s ability to grasp. Her works show a distinctive style reflecting a mature understanding of medium and a sensible interaction between bold strokes and projections. She assembles elements filtered through memory and experience, using colour and tone, introducing the third dimension underpinned by an elusive liner structure. Art radiates through Nusratji’s different interests in life, be it painting, interiors, floral art or gardening. She assimilates the beauty around her and her inspiration and creativity finds its way through the medium palette and knife. She inherited her artistic streak from her mother, who was the first Muslim student of the legendary artist Anna Molka Ahmed. “I grew up in Lahore near the Race Course where I used to watch Arabian horses trot and was fascinated ever since,” Nusratji said during the press preview. Her impressions of horses dominate most large scale paintings. While she captured the force and power of horses in earlier works, in the newer series horses take a more abstract form.Her landscapes have been inspired by views from the window of her farmhouse. A series titled ‘White on White’ are impressions of trees and sunsets that she believed were worth preserving on canvas. When Nusratji gets down to it, she can complete works for an exhibition in one month. Meanwhile, Punjab Council of the Arts Rawalpindi (PCAR) organised a comedy play titled Hera Pheri. The play was presented by PCAR in collaboration with Pakistan Artists Welfare Foundation for the promotion of performing arts and to encourage artists of the region. A large number of families from the twin cities attended the function. The play was written and directed by senior artist Yar Mohammad Khan while Masood Khawaja, Hameed Babar, Naeem Bubba, Noor, Sapna Shah, Jhalak Ali, Anjum Abbasi and Yar Mohammad were included in the caste of the play. Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha and Gulzar Awan, Naheed Manzoor and Punjab Council of the Arts Director Waqar Ahmed were the guests of honour. Mr Paracha said that the play was a good effort of the council to entertain people. There is a need to bring people to auditoriums so that the art of stage drama can be revived, he added. “We wanted to make an effort to educate people about this art form through comedy,” he said. There is a need to bring families to the theatre but it can only be done if quality dramas are shown to them, he said adding that people want to see story based dramas. He said that senior artists participated in dramas so that the young talent of the city would learn from them while working and be motivated.
