Prominent artists Dr. Arshed Maqbool, Jamal Shah inaugurate an exhibition of paintings ‘Twilight and Beyond’

ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (SABAH): An exhibition of paintings titled ‘Twilight and Beyond’ was inaugurated on Wednesday at Islamabad Art Gallery, F-9 Park in the federal capital.

It was inaugurated by prominent artists Dr. Arshed Maqbool along with Jamal Shah and was also attended by a majority of art lovers at cultural venue of Islamabad Art Gallery in the middle of F-9 Park. The exhibition was the first ever one person [Dr Arshed Maqbool] exhibition of numerous paintings and to be continued for two to three weeks.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, renowned artist Jamal Shah said that inauguration of a new art gallery in F-9 Park, Islamabad was a wise decision by the former chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA). He said this gallery was inaugurated in February 2022 and it would add a wonderful milestone to the cultural infrastructure of the federal city.

Expressing his optimism, he furthered the gallery will promote art and culture by creating opportunities for new artists. Ahead of inaugurating the gallery this place was presenting a picture of some old building and had been built for some restaurant, he added.

Recalling his conversation with the ex-CDA chairman, Jamal Shah said he had suggested him building an art gallery in the scenic capital of Pakistan. “After passage of sometime the former chairman suggested me this place of F-9 which I liked the most because of beautiful natural environment surrounding it,” he remarked.

While shedding lights on the work of Dr. Arshed Maqbool, he said that though he is a human physician but he had an innate aesthetic sense which was visible from his work. Jamal Shah said that Dr Arshed beautifully painted mist of the capital of Punjab, Lahore. “The way saints enjoy direct relation with Almighty Allah; Arshed directly plunged in the field of arts in the absence of any relevant degree in this regard,” he added.

Artist Dr. Arshed Maqbool said, “I worked hard on these paintings but there could be flaws as a man can err and only Almighty Allah is perfect. I put hectic efforts into my work. I drive the audience to the focal point of my work without impedance to the moving eye. Dynamics of the palette silently guide the viewers across the canvas thus giving a full visual experience of the scene.”

Candida, a visitor at the exhibition from Italy expressing his emotions said art gallery was built at a proper place and surrounded by a natural environment. He said, “I have not seen such a gallery throughout Pakistan. Paintings over here are eye-catchy.”