‘Hybrid’ by Astute Artists

Karachi’s Art Chowk Gallery organizes a prodigious and remarkable piece of art exhibition ‘Hybrid’ on 25^th of October 2013 that will continue till 15^th of November 2013. The exhibition presents an ultimate collaboration of the two genius art lovers, Atif Khan and Damon Kowarsky.

Atif Khan graduated in Fine Art with distinction in 1997 from the National College of Arts Lahore, Pakistan. During 1998, he received an award (UNESCO_ASHBURG Bursary) and completed his residency in Amman (Jordan) from Darat-al-Funun. He also received commonwealth Arts and Craft Award in the year 2007. In Wales, he was appointed as an artist in the Swansea Print Workshop after which he joined London Print Studio and Glassgow Print Studio (Scotland) from 2005 to 2008. He also took part in the art workshops in India, Bangladesh and Jordan. He has exhibited his work worldwide and participated in the Indian Art Fair in 2012. His solo exhibitions have been held in UK and Switzerland this year along with his participation in various art related activities at different corners of the world.

On the other hand, Damon Kowarsky (born in Australia) got his education in printmaking from the Victorian College of Arts and Glasgow School of Arts and Advanced Figure Drawing along with Godwin Bradbeer at the RMIT. He has exhibited his work in Australia many times and worked as an archeological illustrator. The ‘Dakhleh Oasis Project Egypt’ in the year 2002 was also assisted by him. He taught drawing in the year 2007 at Beaconhouse National University Lahore. Also, he has studied miniature painting under the supervision of Murad Mumtaz and Maheen Zuberi. He has taught in Indus Valley School of Arts and has presented an intellectual solo exhibition at the Alhamra Art Gallery in Lahore.

‘Hybrid’ comprises of 20 etchings that have both individual and collaborated pieces. Both, Atif Khan and Damon Kowarsky exchanged ideas and preliminary designs throughout the year 2012. In October, Kowarsky went to Lahore to work with Atif at the Cowarsky Print Studio of National College of Arts Lahore. Subsequent interventions by both of them and the monthly exchange of images among them created the themes for ‘Hybrid’. They have made their prints in context of velvety Charbonnel ink. Acid, etching needles, aquatints are also used along with the gleaming copper that have simply made their art more engaging.