ISLAMABAD:”Twilight and Beyond”, a solo art show by Dr Arshed Maqbool will be displayed here on December 21 featuring exquisite collection at Islamabad Art Gallery.
Maqbool has a certain passion for painting the fading architecture of the city of Lahore. The artist has skillfully managed to depict details with economic use of strokes which has become his hallmark. The paintings mainly aim at reproducing an effective ambiance without having to overload the space with unnecessary objects to achieve a Picturesque result.
In order to maintain a mystical softness in the image, Maqbool sparingly resorts to chiaroscuro (a painting technique to emphasize volume through deliberate contrast). He avoids harsh lighting and chooses to keep his colors within a pastel spectrum which further fortify his signature style, says M Saeed Kureshi, Art Critic / Painter.
With the onslaught of contemporary architecture, LED lighting, modern street accessories etc. the cityscape is drastically transforming into a concrete jungle. However, Maqbool’s documentation of the receding cityscapes will serve as valuable archives for public to cherish for many years to come.
Recalling the true spirit of dynamic atmosphere of the city requires probing deep into the cerebral depths of the visual memory-a characteristic that Dr Arshed Maqbool has mastered over years of painting. Grasping the nuances of the continuously altering light is a fetish of a few; Maqbool has definitely tamed the brain’s eye to harness even the most daunting charade of light when it moves across buildings and streets – a visual montage that represents the city’s character and identity.
The use of subtle shadows and gleaming reflections is a characteristic that Maqbool has grasped with perfection. It is these effects that give the paintings the freshness that they manifest, he said.
Retrospectively, it was in China during the 9th and 10thcenturies circa that meaningful Iandscape paintings came into existence by artists such as Dong Juan. Thereafter this genre of painting remained limited in its depiction until the 17th century. This was owed to the fact that landscapes were just a part of any painting rather than the primary subject.
Hovering between the Picturesque and the Sublime, the paintings are warm and soothing. Given the carefully chosen
palette, the artworks are relaxing, uplifting and a panacea for conflicting sentiments. Maqbool’s paintings appear to have been conducted effortlessly deploying simplistic treatment of the elements with perfection. This minimalistic technique manifests the artist’s extensive experience in the medium and its handling.