On September 30th, 2023, The Order of Pen brought together the best of Peshawar’s artistic creations in one place i.e. NIC Peshawar. Organized by Toopistan, the Art and Books Exhibition provided a vibrant platform for young and professional artists to showcase their talent and creativity. Featuring a fantastic array of artworks, the display ranged from pencil shading, various types of paintings, sketched portraits, string art, and more.
Following their inner muse, every artist, with their unique perspective, showcased the realms of the inner and outer world. With a distinguished eye for detail and touch of sensitivity, from painters to calligraphers, each artist presented an extraordinary story of an ordinary world. Inspiring others with their art, there must have been a time when something triggered their creativity to flow onto canvases. From seeking refuge from the world to connecting with God, all shared their attempts to acquire inner peace. With the art of crafting words, Sherwood Anderson has exquisitely expressed this thought as ‘The object of art is not to create salable pictures; it is to save yourself.’ Similarly, to quote Leo Tolstoy, ‘Art is not a handicraft; it is the transmission of feelings the artist has experienced.’
Bursting with majestic masterpieces, some of the art pieces in the gallery created euphoria around themselves. Fascinated by jaw-dropping art, all the artists were asked about the inspiration for bringing such spectacular art to the world. As subjective as their paintings, each had their own journey. Let’s explore some of the highlighted artwork of the event.
The marvelous artwork featured here is the creation of a 21-year-old girl. A finance student at the University of Peshawar, Hafsa admires and loves to create abstract art. Speaking about her inspiration, Hafsa said, “Abstract art, for me, is a medium to paint the complexities of life. With the growing modernization, humans have become more anxious, and the world more uncertain. Open to interpretations and subjective realities, abstract art assimilates everyone’s story.”
Moreover, Hafsa is also skilled in combining abstract art and calligraphy.
The vivid depiction of Mughal Art on the right side is Faraz Amin’s pièce de résistance. A final year student of fine arts, Faraz draws inspiration from the Mughal era. 
Elaborating on the insight behind his artwork, Faraz said, “I want to revive Mughal Art by blending Mughal and Modern art. I am particularly interested in depicting women, especially within the context of the increasing discourse on feminism.” He added, “Unlike others, Mughal art fascinates me more than realistic artwork.”
Sana Ullah, a Disaster Management officer by profession, has mastered the art of weaving strings into complex shapes, known as String Art. 
A self-made artist, Sana Ullah, fascinated by shapes and colors, crafts strings into shapes of galaxies and heavens. Elucidating the hard work behind his creations, Sana Ullah shared, “From choosing the cardboard to selecting the colors of string, I pay attention to every detail, as a single incorrect string connection can ruin the entire piece.” However, he added that he is passionate about string art and loves creating it.
Syed Faraz Hussain, a professional lawyer and a diverse artist, blends poetry, calligraphy, and painting skills. 
Faraz Hussain’s inspiration is spirituality, and he said, “Artistic skills like these satiate my inner feelings for God. It’s an expression of my love for God.” Alluding to the given paintings, he added, “I try to assimilate diverse artistic work, as I have done in these artworks. Moreover, my own paintings serve as inspiration for my poetry, and vice versa.”
Another young student of KMU, Husna, exhibited her masterpiece. 
A breathtaking, pleasant, and realistically natural painting, given aside, is a reflection of Husna’s imagination. Narrating the story behind the canvas, Husna said, “I always wanted to paint a place full of serenity and calmness, a place where I could find solace and inner peace.” Though such a place may or may not exist on Earth, for Husna, it already does in her imagination.
A creation of Malika’s imagination, the paintings presented offer a universe of its own.
When asked about the motive behind creating such art, Malika shared, “In these painting, I attempted to present the conscious and unconscious thoughts of a girl. Constrained by society’s restrictions, a girl’s mind is often preoccupied with distressing thoughts. Through the medium of painting, I aim to convey the unseen and unheard stories.”
The above-highlighted key paintings represent just a few of the remarkable artworks displayed by talented artists. The entire art gallery, teeming with diversity, was filled with splendid artists and artworks. Both the audiences and artists had a great time sharing creativity and inspiratiions. In the end, happy and delighted, artists and guests shared their valuable feedback.
Grateful and hopeful to have more artists and events like this, The Order of Pen looks forward to organizing more such gatherings
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