AN ARTIST’S VIEW OF THE WORLD | TASADAQ SOHAIL

Text: Marjorie Husain

Visuals: Courtesy Chawkandi Art

In a recent exhibition of the veteran artist Tasadaq Sohail’s paintings mounted at the Chawkandi Art gallery, the artist led the viewer to wondrous vistas with exotic birds, and flowers introducing his story. The textured brush strokes, palette-knife and the artist’s frotting technique created landscapes of golden grass in the sun dappled scenario of optimism. Though glimpses of misshapen figures wearing the authority of pointed hats are seen drawing together in groups, there are also glimpses of the woodland nymphs symbolizing innocence and joy. Parrots, traditionally the story tellers of folk lore, are in evidence though each of the artist’s paintings invites the viewer’s own interpretation. In the landscapes of the painter strange creatures, gorgeous birds, luminous forms and goblins of the psyche are found. Sohail’s paintings create narratives of sly and perceptive irony, symbolizing everyman’s secret thoughts, dreams and often unspoken fears.