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Exposing violence against women through biting depictions

ISLAMABAD: Nomad Gallery on Tuesday organised a painting exhibition at the launch of a 26 days long campaign against gender violence.

Women activist and poetess Kishwar Naheed inaugurated the exhibition, titled 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) has collaborated with Nomad Gallery for the holding of the exhibition where works of Khuda Bux Abro and Dr Altamash Kamal was displayed.

Posters and calendars related to violence against women were also put on display there.

Kishwar Naheed condemned violence against women and called for better public awareness of women rights.

She read out her poem highlighting the misery of women recently buried alive in Balochistan.

UNIFEM-Pakistan Country Director Alice Shaklford said the UN recognised the services of women living and working in rural and suburban areas of Pakistan and would work for their rights.

Nomad Gallery Director Nageen Hayat said Abro’s colours were reminiscent of a flame.

“His blue shades are cold yet meant to provoke a spark. His orange hues are not bright, but shocking just like a flame,” she said. She said Abro’s paintings had all the drama, mystery and intense content that could make one sit up for a watchful gaze.

A look at Kamal’s portrait photographic works shows that the artist has portrayed social issues facing womenfolk and social attitudes towards them in society effectively with a passion. Kamal chose to photograph people in their own private spaces.

Hence, the location or ambience in which his subjects were shot captured the essence of their lives, even though the concentration was solely on the face.

Khuda Bux Abro’s works depicted a complete humane aspect of a woman in such a manner that woman comes across as the nurturing spirit that she is, and not just as a victim of circumstances.

The women painted by the artists are breathing, full-fledged, complete, human beings and not merely props in his grand designs. Abro’s works were about woman — not the woman who inspires a brush with beauty, but the woman who has yet to revolt against societal injustices.
Source: Daily Times