Samra Malik

Raja Changez is a poet and an artist international repute, hailing from Shakarparian, Islamabad, Pakistan. He received his MFA Degree in Creative writing and an MSc in Journalism both from Colombia University, New York, USA. In addition he also holds an honorary Doctorate in the Arts conferred on him by Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He has also served as the Director General of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts. Raja Changez’s work encapsulates the interrelation of diverse forces with human beings, nature and the environment. His figurative paintings in a mist like revelation reflect his belief in the amorphousness of life where finite lines rarely exist. His Divided Self, series and Himalayan Odyssey is renowned worldwide.

Abrar is a self-taught artist following in the footsteps of Sadequain and Gulgee. He is a prolific artist who fuses contemporary styles with the romance of classical miniature art. His artworks are multidimensional composing of musical instruments, birds, sinuous female forms, small tiles, vibrant leaves and flowers. The usage of vibrant colors, traditional ethnic patterns and textures bring the paintings to life.

Shaista is a self-taught artist who believes that an artist draws inspiration from beauty in human form and from expressions. Her canvases encapsulate women, nature’s most beautiful and complete creation and encaptures their great strength in tolerating pain with a smile. The pigeons or musical instruments such as a flute or sitar in her painting are symbolic of freedom of speech and a woman’s desire to be free. The jewelry on the women while giving the deception of beauty are actually symbolic of chains and restrains, which restrict them from being free.

An artist from Punjab, Pakistan, Awais Ahmed is treasure trove of talent. Developing his artistic talents Awais moved from watercolors and charcoal sketches to oil on canvas. His ‘Malang Series’ highlights impressive techniques in portrait art and he encaptures the Malang in movement swaying as a devotee. One can almost picture his turbaned Malangs sitting as a devotee at a shrine.