The Pakistan Art Forum, established in 2014, has become an invaluable resource for the local art market with a forum for over 40,000 art enthusiasts, an engaging social media presence, a global sales website launched last year and culminating into a fully functional art gallery that has recently been launched. ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ is the inaugural show of the PAF gallery, which is their pick of emerging artists from all across Pakistan that they predict will be prominent names in the art industry in the coming years. Curated by Imtisal Zafar, the show featured a wide range of works from oil and acrylic paintings, to sculptures, miniatures, charcoal sketches and the most talked about augmented reality segment at the show, with 22 artists from all across Pakistan on display.
AB Rehman:
Arguably one of the most eye-catching segments of the show, the augmented reality artworks by AB Rehman was a futuristic display of works that fused technology and art. Viewers had to scan a QR code displayed next to the paintings, that prompted them to a download an app that provided an interface to view the paintings. And each painting jumped to life on your mobile screen. To no surprise AB’s works were sold out
Arguably one of the most eye-catching segments of the show, the augmented reality artworks by AB Rehman was a futuristic display of works that fused technology and art. Viewers had to scan a QR code displayed next to the paintings, that prompted them to a download an app that provided an interface to view the paintings. And each painting jumped to life on your mobile screen. To no surprise AB’s works were sold out
Ali Gillani:
Ali Gillani’s works on the other hand were more mellow and somber. His miniature technique was mastered in three works that he had displayed at the show, including one larger than life depiction of the demonic side of human beings
Asif Hussain:
Asif’s work explores how we are limited by external factors in our lives and are unable to explore our true potential due to various factors such as societal, religious, economic etc. He includes the study of women specifically shed light on the restraints they face I our society
Asif’s work explores how we are limited by external factors in our lives and are unable to explore our true potential due to various factors such as societal, religious, economic etc. He includes the study of women specifically shed light on the restraints they face I our society
Ayaz Memon:
Ayaz’s body of work focuses on music and how it has an effect on the emotional state of human beings. He explores this through depicting musicians in his beautifully painted oil on canvas works in a very Van Gogh style body pf work
Ayaz’s body of work focuses on music and how it has an effect on the emotional state of human beings. He explores this through depicting musicians in his beautifully painted oil on canvas works in a very Van Gogh style body pf work
Bazil Habib:
Bazil’s work immediately grabbed your attention because of the large canvases with vibrant colors. His depiction of nightscapes with overlaid geometric shapes like windows and stairs really caught one’s eye
Bazil’s work immediately grabbed your attention because of the large canvases with vibrant colors. His depiction of nightscapes with overlaid geometric shapes like windows and stairs really caught one’s eye
Bisma Hussain:
Another artist with the use of vibrant colors was Bisma Hussain. With the use of every day settings of the kitchen or laundry room, Bisma depicts human interactions in complex and sometimes in uncomfortable positions.
Another artist with the use of vibrant colors was Bisma Hussain. With the use of every day settings of the kitchen or laundry room, Bisma depicts human interactions in complex and sometimes in uncomfortable positions.
Fatima Hussain:
Fatima is a realist painter and excels in her skill of equestrian paintings. Her very realistic depiction of horses stems from an exposure to them from a very young age. Her works boasted intricate details and would make for perfect drawing room centerpieces in any collectors home
Fatima is a realist painter and excels in her skill of equestrian paintings. Her very realistic depiction of horses stems from an exposure to them from a very young age. Her works boasted intricate details and would make for perfect drawing room centerpieces in any collectors home
Fatima Khalid:
Fatima Khalid’s miniature style of works explores visual technologies. She beautifully depicts oriental and European symbolism with intricate silver leaf works that make for stunning composition.
Fatima Khalid’s miniature style of works explores visual technologies. She beautifully depicts oriental and European symbolism with intricate silver leaf works that make for stunning composition.
Hamza Qazi:
Another realist painter, Hamza Qazi was a hot favorite last year at the NCA thesis show because of this realist depiction of human feet and the play of light. At this show as well we saw Hamza’s popular feet-work but along with another stunning work with full figure.
Another realist painter, Hamza Qazi was a hot favorite last year at the NCA thesis show because of this realist depiction of human feet and the play of light. At this show as well we saw Hamza’s popular feet-work but along with another stunning work with full figure.
Hassan Qureshi:
Muhammad Hassan Qureshi is a talented young artist from Jamshoro. He explores the unique technique of Candle smoke on canvas, thereby capturing the intangible. Using acrylic paints he then creates abstract forms in large canvases
Muhammad Hassan Qureshi is a talented young artist from Jamshoro. He explores the unique technique of Candle smoke on canvas, thereby capturing the intangible. Using acrylic paints he then creates abstract forms in large canvases
Hina Tabassum:
Hina Tabassum is a sculptor from Karachi, who along with Sehrish has created animal forms using various automotive parts. In her latest series she uses Iron and rust to create a super cute teddy bear with a bow tie, all made out of metal (iron)
Hina Tabassum is a sculptor from Karachi, who along with Sehrish has created animal forms using various automotive parts. In her latest series she uses Iron and rust to create a super cute teddy bear with a bow tie, all made out of metal (iron)
Hira Asim:
Hira Asim, an NCA-graduate, has three large scale works at the show. Using line-work to make large pieces (the largest being 9 feet in height), her work explores the relationship between uncertainty and chaos and how accepting the chaotic nature of life has brought her peace
Hira Asim, an NCA-graduate, has three large scale works at the show. Using line-work to make large pieces (the largest being 9 feet in height), her work explores the relationship between uncertainty and chaos and how accepting the chaotic nature of life has brought her peace
Iqra Majid:
Iqra Majid’s papercut work depicts Islamic geometry that is cut out on papers, arranged in various 3D formations to make unique and beautiful patterns.
Iqra Majid’s papercut work depicts Islamic geometry that is cut out on papers, arranged in various 3D formations to make unique and beautiful patterns.
Irfan Abdullah:
Another sculptor to watch out for at the show this year was Irfan Abdullah, who is a fresh graduate out of NCA. A continuation of his thesis work was working with razor blades to form various sculptures, of which pages of books were one and a sculpted human heart was the other. A larger than life perforated male face made for his final sculpture displayed at the show
Another sculptor to watch out for at the show this year was Irfan Abdullah, who is a fresh graduate out of NCA. A continuation of his thesis work was working with razor blades to form various sculptures, of which pages of books were one and a sculpted human heart was the other. A larger than life perforated male face made for his final sculpture displayed at the show
Isra Noman:
Another artist that uses linework to express her experiences in life and how they have shaped her to be the strong individual she is today
Another artist that uses linework to express her experiences in life and how they have shaped her to be the strong individual she is today
Komal Sulaman:
Komal’s realistic depictions of women explore female objectification in our society and how there is unrealistic expectation and burdens from them especially during the time of ‘rishta hunt’. She portrays women in various situations in vibrant and large canvases
Komal’s realistic depictions of women explore female objectification in our society and how there is unrealistic expectation and burdens from them especially during the time of ‘rishta hunt’. She portrays women in various situations in vibrant and large canvases
Maliha Mateen:
Maliha’s playful works with vibrant colors depicted female figures with blue skin tone. Another artist that stood out for us due to her depiction of human interaction, against vibrant backdrops
Maliha’s playful works with vibrant colors depicted female figures with blue skin tone. Another artist that stood out for us due to her depiction of human interaction, against vibrant backdrops
Naira Sharjeel:
A beautiful sight to behold were the polyester sculptures by Naira Sharjeel at the show. Extremely intricately carfted, Naira had developed three sculptures for the show of which a life size chandelier completely, made out of polyester was the show stopper for the artist. Other two sculptures included a padlock and chain and a cuckoo clock.
A beautiful sight to behold were the polyester sculptures by Naira Sharjeel at the show. Extremely intricately carfted, Naira had developed three sculptures for the show of which a life size chandelier completely, made out of polyester was the show stopper for the artist. Other two sculptures included a padlock and chain and a cuckoo clock.
Ramsah Imran:
Ramsah creates abstract forms using Resin. Her work depicts mass produced, ordinary items in her surrounding using resin that make for visually striking artworks
Ramsah creates abstract forms using Resin. Her work depicts mass produced, ordinary items in her surrounding using resin that make for visually striking artworks
Raza Bukhari:
Raza’s mesmerizing miniature paintings are extremely detail oriented and explore various cultures and religious symbols, highlighting Persian and Christian imagery
Raza’s mesmerizing miniature paintings are extremely detail oriented and explore various cultures and religious symbols, highlighting Persian and Christian imagery
Shahid Hassan Boni:
Another miniature artist from NCA, his works have an ethereal quality to them, using softer palettes. His works are shaped by his own personal experiences and explore the theme of displacement. Growing up in rural mountainous region of the country and pursuing education In Lahore, Shahid’s works are deeply personal
Another miniature artist from NCA, his works have an ethereal quality to them, using softer palettes. His works are shaped by his own personal experiences and explore the theme of displacement. Growing up in rural mountainous region of the country and pursuing education In Lahore, Shahid’s works are deeply personal
Shazma Arshad:
Shazma’s feminine paintings are mostly self-portraits and focus the expression of the inner self in a digital world that puts great pressure to be divergent from your true self.
Shazma’s feminine paintings are mostly self-portraits and focus the expression of the inner self in a digital world that puts great pressure to be divergent from your true self.
