ISLAMABAD: On a humid day (April 25), Gallery6 offered a refreshingescapeforthe artlovers ofthe capital as it unveiled a landmark exhibition on Friday.

The commemorative group show brought together the creative force of 32 acclaimed and emerging artists from across Pakistan an inspiring tribute to the gallery`s 17-year journey and its unwavering dedication to the country`s dynamic art landscape.

`This exhibition is a heartfelt tribute to all the artists who have walked this journey with us,` says Dr Arjumand Faisel, curator of Gallery6.

The exhibition highlights the dynamic range of contemporary practices that define today`s landscape of Pakistani art. The exhibition is also homage to five legendary artists whose contributions have shaped the Pakistani art scene, yet who are no longer with us.

Sadequain`s calligraphic and other artworks have become synonymous with intellectual vigour and spiritual depth. The two brilliant drawings in the show are original pages that he drew for his book Rubaiyyat Sadequain Naqash, captivating in both form and meaning.

Also featured is Mansoor Rahi, a celebrated artist and master of cubism.

His vibrant works and teaching have significantly influenced contemporary art. His two vibrant paintings from the 2001 `Musician Series` reflect the rhythmic vit ality that marked his pr actice.

Mansur Aye`s two featured works are among the few chemical paintings he produced.

One of the standout contributors is Karachi-based artist A.S. Rind, known for his evocative charcoal portraits infused with poetic and political undertones. Rind`s two featured works draw inspiration from Faiz Ahmed Faiz`s poetry, especially Zulmat-i-Shab (darkness of tyranny) and Zindan Nama (prison diary), portraying women as metaphors for the oppressed.

Akram Dost Baloch confronts social inequalities with expressive figurative works. `I paint faces marked by oppression, poverty, and gender inequality, resilience and enduring hope, he explained.

Mobina Zuberi`s abstract paintings on handmade Nepalese paper vibrate with emotion and intuitive form.Abid Hasan`s paintings `Blueprint of Survival` and `Struggle to Bloom` in oxidised silver and gold leaf explore climate change and social injustice.

The poetic abstractionism of Maqsood Ali based on the Rilli of Sindh blends in tradition with contemporary aesthetics and the evocative brushwork of Aftab Ahmed further enriches this tribute, allowing new generations to witness their timeless legacy.

Seven contemporary artists bring anabstract and non-representational language to the fore, offering visual poetry and conceptual engagement.

Their works explore a wide variety of themes such as identity, cultural suppression, emotion, racialism, education, environment and others through the human form, offering diverse perspectives grounded in personal and collective experiences.

Aun Raza`s Beti Parhao, Beti Bachao (educate daughter, to save daughter) powerfully advocates for girl education. `It is not just responsibility but necessity and a constitutional right`, he remarks. Notably, Ali Abbas and Ather Jamal present their reflections on the Sufis and women of Sindh.

Four acclaimed landscape painters contribute evocative views of Pakistan`s natural beauty. Ajab Khan`s Silent Flow and Neelum`s Lap area surrealistic depiction of Kashmir and Pakistan`s northern valleys.

`Light and colour harmonise like a silent poem,` Khan said.

Dr Arshed Maqbool has captured Lahore`s rainy afternoons and historicarchitecture. `I bring an artistic eye to Lahore`s streets and monuments...

blending accuracy with emotion,` he remarked.

Nazir Ahmed`s works reflect a deep, spiritual connection to seasonal changes and natural harmony, the interplay of light and colour across different seasons and times of day. Shabla Rafi`swork balances realism and emotional resonance.

Imran Hunzai, a poet, musician and artist, presents a sculptural dragonfly in rust-free white wire a symbol of transformation, delicacy, and resilience.

`I get inspiration from Nature`s intricate beauty and explore the interconnectedness of mankind with Nature through detailed depiction like the dragonfly,` he told Dawn.

For Imran, creation is a journey of discovery, celebrating our deep bond with nature.

Farrukh Shahab, Shiblee Munir, Ageel Solangi, Anila Zulfiqar, and Samra Cheema each interpret abstraction through texture, symbolism, orenvironmental concerns. Cheema`s finger-painted works echo the fragility of coral reefs, while Solangi`s The River`s Lap uses symbols like periwinkle flowers in purple discs, an empty boat with a red flag depicts time, struggle and contemporary issues of water scarcity.

Still life is powerfully represented by three artists. Their compositions turn ordinary moments into timeless meditations, revealing the quiet power and poetic potential of everyday life.

`Painting is about relationships, Mona Naqsh noted. Unab Sumbal explores quiet domesticity and the human presence hidden in daily life`s simplicity.

Exquisite miniature paintings add to the exhibition`s variety. Safwan Bashir and Mutaib Shah reinterpret miniature painting with modern themes.

Bashir`s Geometry of Justice examines the paradox of beauty and brutality.

Open daily from 11am to 7pm until April 30, the exhibition offers a dynamic cross-section of Pakistani art, from traditional forms to experimental expressions.