ARTCITI

 Invites you to

an exclusive exhibition of Calligraphy at

ARTCITI Gallery

16th - 22nd March 2017

Exhibition Opening

16th March 2017
6pm - 8pm

Visit our gallery or view the virtual exhibition
on www.artciti.com

ARTCITI Gallery

2nd Floor, Plot # 36-C,

Bukhari Commercial Lane-13,

Khayaban-e-Shujaat, Phase-VI, DHA, Karachi.

Email: info@artciti.com  Web: www.artciti.com

FB: facebook.com/artcitionline

Ph: +9221-35250495,  +9221-35250496

About the Exhibition

An Aura of Soul

During the Ottoman period, calligraphy gained a very high standing in society and several women calligraphers flourished. In the sub-continent history there were many known women calligraphers who worked with heart and soul in this art and helped in spreading it in the region. The first Mughal emperor Babar's wife was a calligrapher and painter, Aurangzeb's daughter Mehar-un-Nisa Begum was also famous for practicing this art.

Calligraphy in the present age has become the most venerated form of Islamic art, and contemporary artists through their art create a new heritage of calligraphy. The new way of calligraphy - painterly calligraphy has lately been practiced by the calligraphers of our time, women and men both alike.

Mussarat Arif is one of the women calligraphers of our time who uses 'Kufi' form of calligraphy in her artworks with painterly touch. She produces calligraphic art governed by the principles of balance and proportion, rhythm and unity. She incorporates various patterns and geometric designs in her work which interwoven with the words of the Holy Quran emit a soul touching aura.

The journey of self-discovery motivated her to the creative world of painting. She preferred Kufi calligraphy using various types of mediums, including oils, acrylics, watercolours and pastels. Her recent work in calligraphy appears in square and circular shapes, highlighted by bright red, green, blue, ochre and black. 

The arcs and loops, ovals and circles, vertical and horizontal lines are used as designs in her artworks. The basic geometrical forms remain the same in all works. She chooses the most appropriate form she likes to use in her calligraphic paintings. She decorates her paintings with bright colours, glitters and Islamic motifs. She uses moon and 'Takhtee' symbolically for unknown and known realities of this world. She also uses new elements such as patterns of 'Ajrak' - a local symbol in her calligraphy.

A few of the calligraphies are on wood also. Her love for wood goes back to her  childhood when she regularly saw her father doing wood work at his workshop, where she grew with it and felt compelled to use it as a medium. And hence this time for her inner satisfaction she chooses wood for calligraphy. Various shapes of wood square, rectangle, circle and irregular enhances her calligraphic work and adds a unique new style to her basic form and design, and characteristic manner of expression.

Nadeem Zuberi

​

Musarrat Arif

Education:

* 1996 Diploma in Fine Arts (Painting) from Karachi School of Arts

* 1992 B.Sc in Home Economics from Rana Liaquat Ali Government College for Women, Karachi.

Solo Shows

2017       Artciti Gallery Karachi.

2012       Art scene Gallery Karachi.

2010       The Collectors Galleria, Lahore.

2009       Art Scene Gallery, Karachi.

2005       V.M. Art Gallery, Karachi.

Group Shows

2015       4 men show Chawkandi Art Gallery.

2015       Group Show in Qatar.

2014       Group Show in Jeddah.

2013       Group Show in Italy.

2013       Group Exhibition in Malaysia.

2012       Two man Show Ejaz Art Gallery.

2012       Group Show in  Jeddah.

2012       Group Show in London.

2012       Group Show in USA.

2012       Liberted Dreame International exhibition Italy.

2011       Artistic Fusion from Pakistan (Singapore).

2011       New York Expo.

2011       Pakistan Embassy UK.

2011       Canvas Art Gallery Karachi.

2010       Art Scene Gallery, Karachi.

2010       Grandeur Art Gallery, Karachi.

2010       Pakistan Artist's Show, Singapore.

2010       Women's Day Exhibition at Russian Consulate, Karachi.

2010       PNCA, Islamabad.

2009       Interior of UAE, Abu Dhabi.

2009       Index Exhibition, Dubai.

2008       Group Show, Dubai.

2008       Art Source Gallery, Qatar.

2008   Woman Day Exhibition, Lahore.

2007   15 Senior Artist’s Exhibition, Clifton Art Gallery, Karachi.

2006   20 Pakistan Artists Show, Hong Kong.

2006   Action for Earthquake Victims, Hunar Kada, Karachi.

2006   25 Senior Artist’s Show, Clifton Art Gallery, Karachi.

2006   Pakistan Artist’s Show, Singapore.

2006   Islamic Centre London, UK.

2004   Unicorn Art Gallery, Karachi.

2004   Native Art Gallery, Lahore.

2004   V.M. Art Gallery, Karachi.

2003   Shakir Ali Museum, Lahore.

2002   The Art Gallery, Karachi.

2001   PNCA Islamabad.

2001   (Water Color) Show, Art Council, Karachi.

1997   PNCA, Islamabad.

1996   Shakir Ali Museum, Lahore.

1996   Sadequin Art Gallery, Karachi.

ABOUT ARTCITI

Pakistan is a country effervescing with richness in art and culture.  ARTCITI, a Karachi based innovative art gallery adds flavor to this wealth by expanding local creativity and taking it to a global level. As a wide platform for promoting Pakistani art, ARTCITI aims to become an art powerhouse. With a state-of-the-art gallery and an impressive online portal, it provides an abundance of art to people all around the world. ARTCITI believes in enabling visitors to experience variety while selecting pieces best suited for their taste. Hence, from the classic works of seasoned legends to contemporary forms by refreshing newcomers, ARTCITI offers something to all palates. Open to the world, ARTCITI envisions Pakistani art to reach new heights of recognition.