KARACHI: An exhibition of paintings by renowned artist Shahid Rassam titled Hota Hai Shab-o-Roz Tamasha Merey Aage opened at the Koel Art Gallery on Tuesday evening.

The show is part of the Ghalib and Gulzar series that he has made. The artist has been working with eminent poet Gulzar for the past four years.

As can be gauged from the title of the exhibition, Rassam has named the show after a famous line from one of Ghalib`s verses which translates as `to me, the world is a children`s playground / I witness the playfulness all day and night`. He hasused the English word `spectacle` as Tamasha`s substitute, attributing the violence and repression that the world is engulfed by as a spectacle and humanity as a mere audience. It is the lack of a proactive attitude on the part of the people, who see violence in the name of religion, race, caste, creed and market on a regular basis and do nothing about it, that perturbs Rassam. Therefore, he tries through his art to make the viewers realise as to how important it is get out of their `indifferent`mode.

There are 10 untitled exhibits on display, six of which are oil-on-canvas worl(s and the medium for the rest of them is newsprint-and-charcoal-on-paper. The use of newsprint is significant, becausethe creatures in his charcoal artworks appears to have been consumed by the modern-day cacophony marked by the constant flow of reports that drown out what should be heard and seen, and instead brings forth those aspects oflife that are unpalatable.

Then in one prominent painting (oil on canvas) there are obvious symbols of playing cards, explosives and masks. However, it is the sum total of these symbols that make a poignant image indicating both the contemporary uncertainties and the silence that augments these uncertainties.

The exhibition will remain open until Jan 30.

Rassam`s works will also be displayed in Kolkata on Feb 20.