Art Exhibition, SIFER – A New Breath To Art

Srinagar: Khytul Abyad, hailing from Kashmir, a Post Graduate student of Fine Arts at Beacon House National University Lahore, along with her Juniors (from Institute of Music and Fine Arts, University of Kashmir) and other friends, organized an Art Exhibition, SIFER at Nigeen Club, Srinagar, which was a different of its kind.

Different forms of art like Music, Poetry, Painting, Installations, Photography and the like were showcased in the art exhibition, SIFER.

Khytul, who is a former student of IMFA Kashmir University, when asked about her inspiration, said, “During the contemporary times, you see, the spaces for artists are getting narrower with each passing day, especially in the South Asian countries like India and Pakistan. So the basic aim was to come back to the valley and try something different which would be like providing a platform to the artists. Though the aim is very different from the inspiration.”

“While studying at Beacon House National University, I usually showcased my works there but the fact that I belong here, to my valley, to Kashmir, kept enlightening me in a manner that I was intriguingly urged by my conscience to come back and showcase my work here and collaborate with other artists,” she added.

She also said, “Bringing different artists from different fields together to some place and working with them was one of the objectives which I have successfully achieved.”

When asked about the name of the art exhibition, SIFER, she answered, “SIFER when translated into English means Nothingness or Zero. Saqib, a former classmate gave the idea about the name. Nothingness because everything starts from nothing. Nothing is the new beginning. And, similarly this exhibition was the new beginning for the art here in the valley.”

In the end, she said that the entire credits went to the students of IMFA without whom the task was impossible to do. She also made the remarks of gratitude to her former collegemates including Saqib Bhat, who she praises of being greatly helpful when it came to the things like organizing the event, formulating the ideas and much more.

Khytul also thanked the artists from other colleges including Anis Wani, Sidra Nazir, Peerzada Muzamil and many others for contributing their valuable ideas and works.

Khytul said that she is looking forward to these special exhibitions in future again.

The works of art like poetry, prose, installations and photography were exhibited. A couple of theatrical performances also took place. Muazzam Bhat, a contemporary hip hop artist also performed a rap. Moreover, Ovais Ahmad did a guitar blue solo. The exhibition ended with the soulful musical performance of Ali Saifuddin, whose mesmerizing vocals gave an exhilarating end to the event.

The artists who exhibited their visual art in this event include Khytul Abyad, Tabiah Mueen, Anis Wani, Numair Qadri, Saba Altaf, Xayd Bhat, Saaqi Bhat, Arbila Zehra, Pariha Majeed Magray, Khursheed Mushtaq Ali, Maumoon Lone.

The artist participants also included Azaan Shah with his photography, Junaid Rather, Rayees Wathori, Tanveer Ahmad Bhat and Tahir Ahmad Najar with their folk theatre, Ali Saffudin with his music, Muazzam Bhat with his Hip Hop, Ovais Ahmad with his guitar solo, Peerzada Sheikh Muzamil with his Short Story, Fayiq Wani, Sidra Nazir, Khawaja Musadiq, Syed Zeeshan Hamadani, Rameez Ahmad Mir with their poetry / writing.