An article by Mian Naeem

Farrukh Shahab, a Karachi based artist, has put on display his recent works at a solo show at the Croweaters Gallery. The works comprise of oil paintings, executed using oil paint and acrylic on the low-textured canvas.
In one of the works, he divides the composition into small rectangles and composes a series of stylized human faces. It is a monochromatic work. Each and every face is painted in a way to express various gestures.
A stylized tree, painted in the center of another composition, dominates the canvas. A reclining female figure is arranged in the bottom of the tree trunk. It is rendered, using brown colour. He repeats the reclining female figure at the bottom of another vertical composition, with leaves of a tree on the top, but in this work, he divides the central area in small irregular blocks, using black lines which look like a loosely rendered brick wall.
In another work of this series, he paints a row of stylized female figures and paints leaves and foliage on the top of the composition.
In most of his works, he develops small areas of the canvas, using small brushstrokes. He works with a variety of techniques to apply thick and thin layers of paint and pastels, which produce a beautifully textured surface. At some places, he applies thick paint, in such a way that it looks like it was done by a palette knife. Trees, foliage, stylized female figures and remnants of old buildings are essential parts of his compositions. He frequently divides his compositions with thin black lines.
His palette is rich, ranging from monochromatic brown to radiant red and green. In spite of repetition, his works are mature and skillfully developed textures play a dominating role in his paintings.

one can view this exhibition online at www.yellowfactor.com

Author: (c) Mian Naeem
Art Critique
Lahore, Pakistan.