An artist’s quest for a harmonious society
Anil Datta
Karachi: A collage of buildings with a surreal touch, including a church, a mosque, and a Mandir—-This is Tabinda Chinoy’s vision of a society embedded in tolerance and harmony. Tabinda just doesn’t paint at random. Her paintings are a projection of her sublime dreams. She longs for a society where all religions happily coexist where everyone respects every other person’s views and sensitivities, where universal love reign supreme. Her dreams of happy situations are so well represented by the surrealist touch in her works.
This is what was more than evident in the launch of her book, “Between dreams and reality: the art of Tabinda Chinoy”, at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture Wednesday evening.
The book launch was held under the joint aegis of the Fommatrust (Foundation of the Museum of Modern Art) and the Oxford University Press (Pakistan).
Lauding her works, Taimur Suri, a member of the academic staff of the Indus Valley School praised Tabinda for the perception in her work. Lauding the symmetry in her paintings, Suri said, “Her paintings are bold and vibrant. Her dream of a non-polarised society in Pakistan is so very obvious in her works”.
He said that sometimes Tabinda had a bizarre imagery and that was because something that had a bizarre representation had greater chances of being remembered longer and making an impact.
Tabinda’s surrealism is also reflected in the nostalgia she feels for the days gone by. In one of her works there’s the floor with black and white tiles forming the background to a painting. In her interactive dialogue with Zurrain Imam, an art critic and journalist, she said that the tiled floor did not have any connection with the main subject of the painting but that she was being reminded of the floor in her parents’ home. Nostalgia is what dreams are made of.
Noted artist and art critic Marjorie Hussain, who has penned the script of the book, narrated Tabinda’s admission into the Slade School of Fine Art in London. “Tabinda paints because she enjoys striking compositions and comparisons”, said Marjorie. She quoted the late artist Ali Imam who had said to Tabinda “You certainly have the sensitivity of an artist. You just have to persevere”. She was all praise for Tabinda’s talent.
Ameena Saiyid, praising Tabinda’s works as bold and vibrant, said, “Her art helps wipe off so many of the negative clichés about Pakistan”. She said that Tabinda certainly deserved an award for the book.
This was followed by a slide presentation of Tabinda’s works with the artist explaining various facets of her works in an interactive dialogue with Zurrain Imam.
After graduating from the Central Institute of Arts and Crafts, Tabinda went to the Slade School of Fine Arts in London.
Since 1977, she has been holding solo exhibitions of her works across the world.
She is the author of two books, “The dream”, and “Between dreams and reality”.
The function was compered by Ameena (Pommy) Gauhar.
Source: Daily Times
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