LAHOR E: A solo exhibidon of landscapes and coins by Safeena Kausar opened at the Open Studio of the Shakir Ali Museum on Friday.

The artist has used miniscule technique in the oil medium on the canvas.

Ms Kausar who hails from Madrassa Chattah, a village near Gujranwala told Dawn: `It`s my very first solo exhibition. I have tried to capture the pastoral beauty of my village through my artworks.Nature is close to my heart and I have tried to depict the serenity and beauty of my village through my paintings`.

Safeena Kausar has earlier participated in the Young Artists Exhibition organised by the Lahore Arts Council. A novel aspect of the exhibition was the coins, capturing nature on them, painted with oil.

`I use such things which seem redundant, even children and beggars don`t accept coins these days and they often remain lying unused in one`s wallet. I thought of paintingthem to turn them into mini-art pieces` says Kausar who has done the Master`s in Fine Arts from the College of Art and Design, University of Punjab University and she is currently doing another MastersinVisualArtfrom the National College of Arts. She has put about 500 artworks on display at the exhibition.

To the question that why she only painted her village, Kausar said when she came to Lahore for studies, the noise and hustle and bustle of the city made her miss her village, its peace, serenity, the scenes of dawn and dusk and the starry nights and thought of painting all the beauty of her village.

Safeena Kausar is inspired by iconic artists like Allah Bux, Khalid Iqbal and Van Gogh.

Shakir Ali Museum Director Taniya Sohail inaugurated the exhibition. The exhibition will remain open till April 5.