KARACHI: The works on view at Chawkandi art gallery are a refreshing representation of a war-torn country better known for anarchy than aesthetics. The solo exhibit of around 25 works is by the trained painter Ali Bab Awrang who has been practicing the art of calligraphy for nearly twenty years now.
The body of work displayed, consequently, is not only depictive of Afghanistan's devastation by decades of war, but also of the liberating role text played as the main form of artistic expression since the creation of figurative or life-like images remains objectionable and dangerous to date.
Based on mostly Persian poetry and words the swirling mass of dark text in his paintings is unlike the calligraphic works that are seen locally, says curator Zohra Hussain praising the masterly quality of his calligraphic works. With the occasional blue the mostly somber brown- black execution on Wasli instead of canvas or paper is another unusual aspect of his work according to Hussain.
Talking on behalf of the Hazara artist who only speaks Persian, Hussain also adds that the poetic renditions and the dark abstracts in Aurang's calligraphy are suggestive of the brutality of daily life in civil war conditions in one of the world's poorest countries.
The calligraphic works by Ali Baba Awrang from Afghanistan will remain on display till December 13.
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