Mobina Zuberi’s “Textures of Emotions” solo exhibition opens at Gallery 6

ISLAMABAD, Sep 30 (APP): A solo exhibition titled “Textures of Emotions” by renowned artist Mobina Zuberi opened at Gallery 6 on Wednesday, bringing together 27 recent and selected works that explore the many dimensions of human emotion through figurative and abstract art.

The exhibition presents two distinct yet closely connected aspects of Zuberi’s artistic practice — her evocative depictions of women and her abstract compositions. Although different in visual language, both bodies of work reflect the artist’s longstanding engagement with mood, expression, form, texture and atmosphere.

Zuberi’s artistic journey began in the 1970s and has evolved over several decades through a wide range of subjects, styles and techniques. During the past decade, paintings featuring women and abstract works have become particularly significant elements of her creative expression.

In her figurative paintings, Zuberi portrays women in ordinary yet psychologically charged moments, often capturing them in states of introspection, stillness or quiet anticipation. Rather than focusing on conventional representations of feminine beauty, she draws attention to gestures, poses, contours and facial expressions to evoke an inner world of memories, thoughts, desires and experiences.

Her distinctive drawing technique and sensitive treatment of paint and surface add emotional depth to these works. Seemingly fleeting moments are transformed into lasting visual impressions, allowing viewers to imagine stories and experiences that extend beyond what is directly represented on the canvas.

Her abstract works employ a different visual vocabulary, with shape, colour, space, texture and movement serving as vehicles for expressing mood and feeling. The tactile qualities of Nepalese handmade paper play an important role in several compositions, as its uneven and rugged surface interacts with colour and form to create additional layers of visual and sensory experience.

Rather than directing viewers towards a specific narrative, the abstract works invite intuitive engagement and leave room for individual interpretation. Personal memories, associations and imagination become part of the viewing experience, allowing each work to evoke different responses.

“Textures of Emotions” brings these two strands of Zuberi’s practice together, revealing a continuity in her approach in which emotion remains at the heart of the artistic process, whether conveyed through the human figure or through colour, form and texture.

The 27 works collectively explore not only what is immediately visible but also the subtle and often difficult-to-define emotions that an artwork can generate and leave behind in the viewer long after the initial encounter.