Fusion 2009 - profound in themes

by Harshini PERERA

The Fusion 2009 painting exhibition by Naureen Naqvi and Michael Anthonisz now on at the Barefoot Gallery ends today.

According to Naureen Naqvi and Michael Anthonisz the moment the brush touches the canvas, it lets the painter find himself in the painting. Michael Anthonisz as well as the Pakistan born Naureen Naqvi had the same anticipation. They find themselves a long sought peace in their paintings despite their social and cultural differences. Naureen Naqvi, who mastered Fine Arts at the University of Punjab in Pakistan, has much in common with Michael Anthonisz who is a professionally Chartered Accountant and at the same time a level 2 qualified swimming coach.

The culture of these two artists is put together in Fusion 2009 with distinguished pieces of creativity. The vibrant colours or figures that emerge through a dark background is a distinct quality in Naqvi's paintings. The figures are a part of her painting and not significant. For her, she sees them as living beings just like her treatment of trees, buildings and colours which of course would be physical objects to the eyes of a worldly person. Her painting though on a dark background dances with vibrancy for the viewer feels the colourful portrayal of human emotions.

She has groomed her paintings with the historical and spiritual perspectives of art. Her experience in Pakistan was profoundly expressed with the Sunday Observer. "I was raised in a society in which women were relegated to the corner of house. I have been lucky enough to explore the world and these are my exposure to the world. At a time when the world in such a chaos, we are happy to have this exhibition," she said pointing to her paintings. She had visited many spiritual, historical places where she had seen devotees who had come there in search of inner peace. She had captured their actions, feelings and emotions in most of her paintings. Therefore, the Swirling Darwesh from Turkey or Dhammal (a kind of dance) at Shrines of Sufi Saints mirrors her journey of self exploration. Naureen Naqvi, engages in endless effort to preserve her culture and architectural heritage of her country and explores its various dimensions. Michael Anthonisz no stranger to the world of Arts, manipulates all forms of media from oil to water colour, pastels, pen and ink and charcoal while producing sculptures out of metal, stone and clay which he refers to as "found objects". He who has had many exhibitions in Sri Lanka and abroad, still finds the answer to the question to what art mean to him. He finds subject matter from the world around him. This is starkly reflected in his paintings, where through symbolism from Iliad in Greek mythology mingled with the facial features from Mona Lisa's painting by the renowned painter Leonardo Da Vinci, has created his own interpretation to the viewers. Among them are sketches drawn by pen and charcoal and his use of colour in every picture captures the viewers' eyes.

His paintings are both complicated while some portrayed the simplistic Sri Lankan tradition like in the sketch of women at a bathing place in a rural village. Thus his simplicity and profound paintings will some day or the other answer his question. Until then he may too find the meaning in art just like Naureen finds the lost inner peace in a turmoil world. Naqvi, who serves for UNICEF, is presently working towards her Solo on " Sufism" while Michael Anthonisz is also working towards his solo exhibition later in 2009.