OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE - The Govt College Universitys Minhas Art Gallery on Wednesday put on display abstract paintings highlighting frustration, stress and terror prevailing our society. The exhibition will remain open for two weeks. As many as 24 paintings made by noted artist Rakhshanda Atawar were put on display at the exhibition inaugurated by GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ikramul Haq. Most of the paintings were done mainly with charcoal but the artist also used blacked pastel to give his paintings depth and white chalk to give them a hazy smoky effect. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Ikramul Haq said that what he found most attractive in the artists work was the open-endedness of themes. She has freed herself from the rules of paintings. She just enjoys her work. Each piece is different and open to interpretation, the vice-chancellor said. He further said that the exhibitions at the Gallery provided the university students with an opportunity to interact and learn from the professional artists. He also said the artists should not be neglected as they are great assets of the nation. Talking about her work, Rukshanda said that there was no great philosophy behind it, adding it was about turning the flat surface into a space and then the space into an emotion. It is about the moment. I do not push myself. When I feel that there is nothing more I can add to painting, I stop, she said. Rukshanda said that in her recent paintings, she was using abstract form of art to highlight the frustration and stress prevailing in our society due to inflation and terrorism. GCU Fine Arts Department Chairperson Erfanullah Babar said Rakhshanda was great asset of Pakistan. Belonging to a very artistic family, Atawar grew up amidst individuals producing great art works.