May 7 - June 2, 2022
From Archway Gallery:
“Archway Gallery presents Imperfectly Perfect, featuring new paintings by Mohammad Ali Bhatti. The exhibit will be on view May 7 through June 2, 2022.
The artist will be present at the gallery to visit with guests throughout the day on Saturday, March 5, from 2 – 8 p.m., and will talk about his work at 6:30 p.m.
Mohammad Ali Bhatti’s work is expressive, energetic, and bold. He pushes boundaries and explores new techniques, using acrylics, acrylic inks, and oil pastels to create vibrant art on canvas. “I work very spontaneously,” says Bhatti. “I never have a plan or colors in mind. Painting is like writing in a diary — a free flow of thoughts, feelings and energy influenced by my everyday life.”
Bhatti firmly believes that art doesn’t necessarily have to be pretty or perfect, but it must evoke emotion. “In my early career, I was trained as a figurative artist and attempted to be a painter of ‘perfectness,’” he recounts. “During my PhD studies in Comparative Arts, I realized that artists are capable of expressing emotions and ideas as they wish.” In his abstract expressionist works, Bhatti approaches the canvas with a simple idea, a concept, or a theme and begins with random marks, developing small and large shapes, and connecting them with more lines and shapes. Spontaneous brush strokes, contrasting colors, and multiple layers create a sort of transparency and richness of texture. Complexity of design occurs intuitively — the appearance and disappearance of motifs and elements that float in neutral space. “The incompleteness or unfinished surfaces of my canvases may look imperfect to some, but for me it is the complete fulfillment of making a statement,” says Bhatti. “It is a journey to discover the perfection in the beauty of imperfection.”
In addition to his Abstract Expressionist paintings, this exhibition will include some of Bhatti’s Southwestern pieces, which showcase his figurative art and portraiture skills. “I am electrified by the exceptional country life of the American west,” he explains. “I feel driven to capture on canvas the beauty of life on a ranch, livestock, rodeo activities, rocky mountains, and wide open landscapes.” Bhatti’s ultimate artistic goal is to offer the viewer a complex composition that captures the attention, stimulates thought, and opens a dialog between the work and the viewer. He strives for an aesthetic that encourages open-mindedness while harnessing positive energy and the power of imagination to reveal the beauty of our “imperfectly perfect” world.
Dr. Mohammad Ali Bhatti is an accomplished contemporary Expressionist painter, who concentrates on themes that are inspired by the mysticism, people, and current social issues around him. Born and raised in Pakistan, he attended local art institutions in his native country at an early age. Subsequently, he travelled to the United States and earned an MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, in 1998. In his early career, he was inclined toward figurative art and became a competent portrait artist. Gradually, Bhatti’s work evolved and his interest in mysticism and fantasy led him to a fascination with Abstract Expressionism. For the last 30 years, he has painted and exhibited around the world, resulting in 35 solo exhibitions. His unique artwork can be found in many world-wide collections.”
Reception: May 7, 2022 | 5–8 pm
2305-A Dunlavy
Houston, 77006 TX
(713) 522-2409
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2 comments
Bhatthi’s Art leaves a great impact on students mind when I showed up his work to my students at fine arts dept in LCW UNIVERSITY, Pakistan.
I feel the presence of native colors from his homeland in his art works. He imperfectly had attained the perfect love for his native country,l. People living away from his native lands may be in denial of their hidden live for their mother land but artist like Bhatti, could not hide it and expression is seen in his work.
But, unfortunately I cannot figure out his contemporary taste for art as much of work resemble to the 80 z Pakistani art of painting. See what he says about this comment
Thank you Riffat. I am truly humbled by your positive comments and sharing my paintings with your students. As you might be knowing that I grew up in Pakistan and was trained as portrait painter; however, I was always curious to know beyond what I normally do. So I started pushing the limits or bounderies of my creativity and aesthetc vision. I think artists must keep exploring new idea and express themself as best as they could do. I believe that the real enjoyment of art is the process of its creativity, and I love it. Thanks again for your appreciation and your learned input. Regards