Nadeem Zuberi

Etching technique is in wide use nowadays by artists. And an exhibition titled “Hybrid” at Art Chowk Gallery, Karachi is an excellent showcase of etching artworks.

The idea of working together on a series of paintings was received with open arms by both Muhammad Atif Khan and Australian Damon Kowarsky they started sharing their ideas and preliminary drawings via email throughout 2012. The idea of two artists working together on an image is quite interesting.

Atif Khan is a graduate of the National College of Arts, Lahore and is currently teaching at the NCA, while Damon Kowarsky, an Australia based artist who came to Pakistan to teach at the NCA in 2007 and again to teach printmaking at Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture (IVS) in 2010.

The themes at the exhibition vary from history and society to politics and conflicts. The artworks (20 collaborative etchings) are a result of monthly exchanges of their works revealing the culture and concept of both the artists according to their cultural background and experiences.

The teamwork shows an individual’s interests and ideas about the same issue. Their subsequent discussions and interventions produce a series of fine artworks.

History, identity and culture dominate their works. The images are reflections of different things experience by the artists in their respective countries.

The cultural exchange and the ideas bring much improvement in their works and the multiple, dual thought results in great works.

One can see the shadow of other artist in each artist’s works which makes the artworks much more appealing. Some artworks make

viewers compelled to make their own interpretation about the works.

But the message is loud and clear in most of the exhibits. Viewers are quite impressed with their concepts, which are simple and attractive. Like portrayal of kite like drone in a work titled “Drone”, birds as innocent people in “Conference of the Birds”, Mughal dressed figure as ruling class in “Kite”.

‘Hybrid’ is on display simultaneously at Art Chowk Gallery, Karachi and Joshua McClelland Print Room Melbourne.

The experience of the two artists is so overwhelming that both the artists are looking forward to collaborate again for ‘Hybrid II’, the second part of this project, to be produced next year.

nadeemzuberi71@gmail.com