The show titled "Bhook" presents collection of different kinds of artworks in wood, metal and paper with carvings and laser engravings. He gives a particular look to his works by using sound, discarded computer motherboards and other mixed media like toothpicks, wires, fibre glass, pencils, plastic, plaster of Paris and even china grass. He glamorise his work by using acrylics, paints, pencil and pen drawing, 3-D flip image on wood.
The shades of wood colour help create a nostalgic bond with books. The sentimental recollection of observations through books gives creative results. The idea helps convert impressions in a much open manner and thus connects the viewers with the concepts of the artist.
The symbolic meanings of various forms and objects are used very carefully sensibly showing an ability to think and understand things clearly and logically.
Munawar bring forth the awareness of knowledge people already have but could not notice in their daily routine. The work title "A Tale of Two Places" symbolically show computer motherboards that have an ability to store processed data and can self-regulate just like a human being who can adjust itself to the changes in its environment and his mind works just like a computer processing daily progress and failures in life and producing results for the future accordingly.
The exhibition is about tangible and intangible the two realities go side by side. Munawar tries to convey this message in a narrative way by creating many works interlinked with each other which when observe reveals information in a story telling style so that the viewer remain engage and get the essence of the work.
The concept and form of his work totally support each other and thus the theme flows from one artwork to another and create a mystical as well as realistic interpretations of his observations and experiences.
I observe a highly develop degree of understanding of issues and surrounding in the present era of technology in his body of work. There is a feeling of constant communication between the artworks and the artist that pass on to the viewer as soon as he/she has a closer look and there Munawar achieve his goal.
His rational approach is an evidence of thinking based on reasons rather than emotions. He is expressible and presents an understandable, reasonable knowledge to waken up consciousness of the people so that they can fight the way out. The titles of his works also disclose his view point clearly - "Cult of knowledge", "Baad Shahanama", "In the Line of Fire", "Age of Deception", "In Search of Lost Time", "When Flowers Bloom", "A Passion for Patience", "Overloaded", "Urdu ki Last Kitab", all indicates "Bhook" that an individual person has for anything he/she thinks important for them.
The multiple layers of his work unfold the theme slowly and gradually helping the viewers understanding the meaning of the exhibition.
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