An exhibition titled “Next Nature,” featuring the unique artistic endeavors of Naqsh Raj, Tahir Ali, and Zahra Jewanjee, opened at Tanzara Gallery on Thursday evening. This exhibition explores the dynamic tension between abstraction and representation, a dichotomy that has been central to artistic practice for over a century.
Through their distinctive styles and techniques, the three artists delve into the complexities of perception, imagination, and knowledge. Naqsh Raj’s vibrant, grid-based compositions, Zahra Jewanjee’s intricate circular forms, and Tahir Ali’s bold, gestural abstractions each activate both the sensual and cerebral, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in their distinct visual worlds.
The opening ceremony was attended by art lovers and officials who admired the creative works of the artists. The exhibition will remain open until August 10, inviting art enthusiasts to visit.
Artist Profiles:
- Naqsh Raj: An artist, educator, and mother currently teaching at the Art & Design department at Nottingham Trent International College. She holds a Master’s Degree in Visual Arts from the National College of Arts, Lahore, and has served as an art educator in Pakistan for ten years at Comsats University, Islamabad. Naqsh is also a member of Primary, a contemporary visual arts organization based in the UK.
- Tahir Ali: A multifaceted artist and educator based in Hyderabad and Karachi, with a BFA in Painting with Honors from the National College of Art, Lahore, and another BFA from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. He currently teaches at CEAD, Jamshoro. Tahir’s work has gained international recognition, with pieces featured in the permanent collection of the US Embassy in Islamabad and exhibitions at prestigious galleries like Satrang Art Gallery and Artchowk Art Gallery. He has received the Top Ten Young Artists Award at Alhamra Art Gallery and a Merit Scholarship at NCA.
- Zahra Jewanjee: An artist and educator living and working in the UAE. She received her BFA from the National College of the Arts, Pakistan, and an MFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design, USA. Zahra was awarded the Salama Bint Hamdan Emerging Artist Fellowship and Full Scholarship in Abu Dhabi in 2016. Her multidisciplinary practice, oscillating between painting, sculpture, and photography, draws from nature and explores belonging and agency through a fictive chair language.
