13.12.2024

«The Beginning» - Exhibition by Khabbab Ahmed and Mohammad Momin at the Roerich Estate in Naggar

Khabbab Ahmed commenced his artistic endeavours over two decades ago. Painting became an additional pursuit for the artist, supplementing his primary profession. The artist acquired his painting skills through independent study, consistently refining his techniques. His artistry was shaped by his affinity for the equilibrium of image, form, and colour palette. Khabbab Ahmed has deliberately opted for a realistic style, which enables him to integrate classical, harmonious forms with the purity and richness of colour. 

In the artist's landscapes, behind the external forms of nature there is always a deep philosophical message to the viewer. Here are the waves that embody a state of struggle. The silhouettes of horses, which do not give up and are carried forward, overcoming obstacles, are seen in them. The same idea is reflected in another painting, entitled ‘Brook’, which depicts a mountain stream, easily rounding stone rubble on its way. For the artist, water is a symbol of overcoming obstacles. ‘We must become water,’ the artist explains, ’to overcome life's obstacles. Nothing can stop the flow of water, it is changeable, flexible, always moving forward. To navigate this life, to learn to overcome obstacles, we sometimes need to resemble the water stream.’ 

Behind the artist's realism lies a deep symbolism. Hidden in his paintings are reflections on life, life's journey, family, love, unity. Thus, a bouquet of roses on an abstract background is a symbol of his family, where each rose is a person. The abstract background seems to embody the flickering years, successive events, against the background of which the family bouquet remains unchanged in its integrity, cohesion, closeness of people-flowers to each other. 

Sometimes the artist creates his paintings without being constrained by a specific concept or intention related to the subject matter. He posits that the harmonious interplay of colour, its symbolism, is sometimes sufficient to evoke a particular emotional response in the viewer. The artist considers the effect of colour on the viewer to be of great importance. 

On the 8th of November, the International Roerichs Memorial Trust's exhibition hall played host to the inaugural event of a joint exhibition of two notable artists from Punjab, father and son, Khabbab Ahmed and Mohammad Momin. Entitled 'The Beginning', the exhibition marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between the two artists. The title was selected by the artists themselves, and it is notable that this is their first professional exhibition. The opening of the exhibition was attended by the Russian and Indian curators of the International Roerichs Memorial Trust, as well as other  guests and employees of the Trust. 

Khabbab Ahmed assumed the role of an art teacher for his son, the second artist featured in the exhibition, Mohammad Momin. Similarly to his father, he commenced his artistic career with a focus on realism. The exhibition showcases the artist's initial works, in which he acknowledges the significance of attaining unparalleled precision in portraying the minutiae. ‘Like a photograph,’ the artist smiles. Subsequently, the artist's focus shifted from the objective of accurately reproducing the depicted subject matter to the exploration of symbolism and the intrinsic depth of the subject. In the artist's final paintings, there is a notable shift towards the representation of movement, the use of abstract backgrounds, a more schematic approach, and a focus on the broader composition of the canvas, rather than on minute details. 

In her observations of the artistic family, Mrs. Larisa Surgina, the Russian Сurator and an employee of the International Centre of the Roerichs, also reflected on the legacy of the remarkable Roerich family. She mentioned, that Nicholas Roerich frequently asserted that his artistic endeavours were inspired and guided by the input of his wife, Helena Roerich. She served as a source of inspiration for both the artist himself and their talented sons.

For the Khabab Ahmed family, Mrs Aaisha is also undoubtedly the heart of the family. Her soulful presence and inner warmth are evident in every painting. The exhibition of artists, Mrs Surgina observed, shows a harmonious interplay of forms and a vibrant combination of colours, compelling the audience to engage with the aesthetic experience. This resonates with the overarching principle espoused by Svetoslav Roerich throughout his life: "Let us strive for the Beautiful."

Both Momin and his father evince a profound philosophical understanding of their images. On occasion, an entire narrative may be embedded within the seemingly straightforward image. The artist's paintings that depict movement, such as "Time Lapse" and "The Chase," symbolically convey the transience of time and the immediacy of events. In the painting entitled 'The Chase', we observe blurred, constantly moving figures of basketball players engaged in a struggle for possession of the ball. The focus of their attention is concentrated solely on the ball, and as a result, the stands and the athletes themselves are represented as light particles in constant motion. The painting symbolically illustrates how everything that is out of focus in our lives recedes into the background and seems to be erased. 

In conclusion, the curators of the IRMT shared their impressions of the exhibition. The Indian Сurator, Mr. Suresh Kumar, wished the artists further creative success. He expressed the hope that the first exhibition in such an exhibition space as the International Roerich Memorial Trust, where the great Roerich family worked, is an important milestone in the creative path of both artists, and that their co-operation with the Trust will continue. 

Aaisha, the esteemed wife of one artist and mother of the other, is a special inspiration and admirer of the work of both artists. Aaisha and Khabbab Ahmed’s children have demonstrated considerable artistic talent. Their other son, Mohsin, evinces a proclivity for painting, photography, and arts and crafts. Aaisha and Mohsin were present to offer their support to the artists and participated actively in the tour of the exhibition. They shared their insights into the artists' work and recounted the inspirations behind the creation of certain paintings. Mrs Aaisha posited that her artist son Momin, whose paintings were presented at the exhibition, is able to complete his work with remarkable swiftness due to his complete immersion in the creative process, which allows him to temporarily detach from the external world. It is highly unusual for him to be engaged in a single painting for more than a few days. Her husband approaches painting in a meticulous manner, eschewing haste and instead investing considerable time and effort into refining his work. He frequently revisits his creations, allowing for a process of continual improvement and refinement.