Samra Malik

A painter, an art restorer, art scholar, film maker, art photographer, TV anchor, Founder President of The Visual and Performing Arts Forum Pakistan (NGO), Ashkal is an adept and highly gifted artist. His mentor, Iqbal Mehdi left a lasting impression on him and encouraged Ashkal to explore figurative art. His artworks exhibit straight lines and angles in figurative forms and intelligent use of vibrant colors blended in soft hues.

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.

Noreen’s artworks are inspired by the Arabic Language. Her “Alif” series artworks highlight the importance of Alif, the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, concept of oneness, the first existence, the beginning of all things and is symbolic of God’s absolute oneness. The shape of Alif resembles the numeral 1 reinforcing the concept of God’s unity and the concept of ‘the one’. Noreen uses letters from the Arabic alphabet in abstract form and each of her series isolates and highlights one particular alphabet.

Born in Karachi, Salman Farooqi graduated with distinction from the Karachi School of Art. He also studied under Iqbal Mehdi, a senior, renowned Pakistani artist. Salman’s artworks radiate refreshing colors and forms, which are organized on the canvas in spontaneously created geometric configurations with smooth textured lines overlapping and traversing the canvas with ease. His canvases are balanced and eye-catching with rich color palettes and bold compositions, which are aesthetically pleasing. Salman’s works of landscapes focus on impressionism and this technique has gained him acclaim and worldwide recognition.