ISLAMABAD: Mixing Mughal history with contemporary art, Lahore-based artist Samina Ali Akhtar on Friday showcased her latest collection of mix-media paintings at the Nomad Art Gallery.

“Samina Ali Akhtar goes a step forward in merging history with aesthetic contemporary imagery. Her latest exhibition features 25 mix-media paintings reflecting unique elements on a juxtaposed surface of woodcut, calligraphy, natural dyes, stains, gold and silver leaf, with powerful compositions and fine details,” Nomad Gallery Director Nageen Hyat said about the exhibition.

New dimensions of mix media are the main feature of the exhibition, which reflects the artist’s love for traditional Mughal-era paintings in the Sub-Continent. All 25 paintings are in vibrant colours and a fusion of contemporary work with nostalgic images of the rustic history of the Mughal dynasty.

The rich colour palate and the use of gold and silver leaf to highlight the eccentric miniature paintings added an affluent flair to the collection. Samina, who is an ardent fan of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, has also tried to incorporate his poetry into her work to accentuate it. The mixed media together with calligraphy and miniature art gives a well-rounded feel to the pieces.

Samina’s art is pluralistic and has an ethereal quality. Her command over the medium, composition and texture are also commendable. Samina’s paintings move back and forth in time and her innovative, original and breathtaking work portrays the imagery of the past effortlessly. These paintings offer a fascinating window into the lives of those great rulers.

Talking about the paintings Samina said that her work expressed nostalgia for the past while creating a reference point for the present.

“Artists tend to be nostalgic. They portray what is history. The wheel of time keeps moving and culture changes with it,” said Samina, who is holding her seventh solo exhibition at the Nomad Gallery.

She added that when she attended a course on restoration and preservation of architecture at the Lahore Fort, she was struck by the splendour of the building.

“In the Mughal edifices, built from profound sculpted red sandstone, I could see a striking illustration of the peculiar culture in which barbarism and refinement were so strongly blended,” she said

Samina’s compositions urges art lovers to delve deeper into her works, where she questions, celebrates and makes endeavours to figure out a good balance between religion, culture and expectations.

The exhibition will continue at the Nomad Gallery until January 24.

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