The two artists recently showcase their compelling etching artworks at an exhibition titled “Hybrid” at Art Chowk Gallery, Karachi. 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. ‘Hybrid’ is on display simultaneously at Art Chowk Gallery, Karachi and Joshua McClelland Print Room Melbourne.
Atif Khan is a graduate of the National College of Arts, Lahore and is currently teaching at the NCA, while Damon Kowarsky, an Australian 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 images are reflections of different things experience by the artists in their respective countries. The teamwork shows an individual’s interests and ideas about the same issue. Their subsequent discussions and interventions produce a series of fine artworks.
The cultural exchange and the ideas bring much improvement in their works and the multiple, dual thought results in great works. History, identity and culture dominate their works.
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”.
One can see the shadow of other artist in each artist’s works which makes the artworks much more appealing. Some artworks compelled viewers to make their own interpretation about the works.
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.