KARACHI, Oct 28: Collaborative art gives away duality or multiplicity of thought. What needs to be taken care of is that there’s no clash on the technical level that eventually hurts the contextual framework of the effort. But more often than not, collaboration in art suggests intellectual agreement, and according to the inimitable Czech writer, Milan Kundera, to agree is to merge. An exhibition of artworks by Australian artist Damon Kowarsky and his Pakistani counterpart Atif Khan titled Hybrid can be seen at Karachi’s Art Chowk gallery and Melbourne’s Joshua McClleland Print Room. The artworks are a result of both researched teamwork and individual interests. And it’s quite a show.
There’s likelihood that the viewer gets a sociopolitical vibe out of the first Kowarsky piece called ‘Drone’ (etching on paper). Of course, the sociopolitical connotation cannot be overlooked. However, the etching itself is quite top-notch and makes the technique eclipse the content, at least initially. If it’s not an over-interpretation of the artwork, it’s the eerie silence that the artist has been able to beautifully depict so much so that it’s become palpable. And that’s the overall pattern of the etchings. Being visually forceful, they compel the viewer to go for the interpretation at a later stage of viewing. The skill is just as important as the message. Mr Khan takes a different route in his separate attempt, in the sense that his subject matter comes into view as intensely person, for example ‘Landscape of the Heart’ and ‘Conference of the Birds’ (digital print on Hahnemulhe’s William tuner paper), but the winged creature in the exhibit hints at a spiritual domain that has a collective meaning.
When Mr Kowarsky and Mr Khan come together to work side by side, amazingly, the outcome is not drastically different from their exclusive efforts. In fact the will to highlight issue-based art is more pronounced in their togetherness without being preachy and didactic. A case in point being ‘Flood’ (etching on BFK rives paper). Quality stuff!
The show will continue till Nov 15.