ISLAMABAD: A solo exhibition opened at the National Art Gallery on Thursday featuring more than 30 pieces by artist Erum Ashfaq.

Titled The Passion: Harmonised, the exhibition is one of more than 19 solo and group exhibitions of Ms Ashfaq within and out side Pakistan.

Organisers said Ms Ashfaq has added more to her canvas than before.

The paintings show that her work is much more mature than before and presents various parts of the country on canvas. The artist has traveled and portrayed various landscapes, from small towns to hills, lakes, canals and forests, along with different light effects and weather moods.

Ms Ashfag is a professional in the field of urban planning and economics, but took to painting because it came to her naturally. She was unaware of her skill as an artist until she won a painting competition judged by a jury from the National College of Arts.

Her fortunes soared in the art world in 2010 when she had an opportunity to exhibit her work in a gallery.

Her work creates a certain nostalgic mood, and the pivotal point of her paintings is afternoon.

Introducing her work, Ms Ashfag said: `Afternoon is the most powerful time of day. It lies on the verge of a living and a dying day. This time is gloomy and unfathomable. The time depicts a moment where happiness departures and sadness sets in.

She explained that she drives her palette from the intricacies of feelings and manifests them in colour.

Her use of colour as well as her subtle strokes give depth to paintings and brings viewers in. She mainly uses light and shadows to express the contrast of life, of happiness and grief, day and night and so on.

Heritage buildings also take centre stage in her work, which she believes will always remain a part of her.

`Passion and profession can be taken together since there does not lie any hindrance to pursue both, she told guests at the show.