‘The Past in the Present’ opens at Alhamra Art Gallery

LAHORE: A solo exhibition of paintings titled ‘The Past in the Present’ by Sana Dar opened at Alhamra Art Gallery, The Mall, on Monday.

Ms Dar, a graduate in visual art and a postgraduate in TV and film studies from the Beaconhouse National University, has been exhibiting her works since 2006 in group shows ranging from photography to the mix media. She is now developing her body of work through abstract expressionism and painting.

The ongoing show exhibits her 21 artworks.

“My work depicts emotions; emotions fueled by daily struggles, moments of brilliance and the pain of being unable to verbally articulate the impact of all that is overwhelming in life,” she says of her works.

She says the way the paint is spread on the surface reflects impulse, anger, spontaneity, and passion. The intricate lines and pen-work around the paint depict conflict, confinement, obsession, relentlessness and persistence. The mediums are in contrast to one another visually as well as conceptually. Sometime they seem disconnected, similar to the detachment between mind and body, dreams and reality, engulfing the entire surface or spreading out like something uncontrollable.

Inspired by the Rorschach inkblot test, and by her own experience, Ms Dar paints her journey through life. Her aim is to evoke the same sense of passion, patience or persistence (amongst other things) that were felt when creating the work.

The titles of the paintings are suggestive of their themes such as ‘A Mad Tea Party’, ‘The Fury in the Jury’, ‘Red Rum’, ‘Beat Your Heart Out’, ‘The Salt in the Wounds’ and ‘Every Rose has its Thorn’.

The exhibition will remain on till May 27.