This week's first showing was the preview of Iqbal Hussain's exhibits at the World Bank office. It was an opportunity to brush shoulders with the people who work there and was not to be missed under any circumstances as the place has held an aura of intrigue for myself. Therefore, there I was, absorbing the exclusivity of the place and felt the invisible line between the haves and the have-nots with myself being in the latter category.
However, coming back to the preview, it was a learning experience. Mr. Sharjeel the external affairs officer, introduced the scribe to Mr. John W. Wall; the country director of world bank for Pakistan and Mr. Wall in turn introduced the artist. Mr. Wall is a great admirer of his work and he initially discovered Iqbal in the famous Heera Mandi of Lahore. Applauding Iqbal's work Mr. Wall said that he has already exhibited his work thrice in the world bank and has a number of his art pieces in his private collection at home. Mr. Sharjeel showed us around the exhibition. There are forty-five exhibits on display consisting of landscapes and portraits. The paintings are akin to life size posters one has the occasion to observe near cinema halls. The work of art gave the viewer an informal peep into the life of Heera Mandi.Woman is the main theme of the exhibition.
Later we got the opportunity to have an informal talk with the artist about his work. Iqbal while responding to a query Iqbal said that he has been painting since last thirty-three years and he takes approximately three to four months to complete one piece. Speaking further he said that he doesn't paint from imagination and he has to be there every day to paint a landscape He was critical of the contemporary art galleries as these were involved in 'self projection' rather than being genuinely interested in the promotion of real art. He was of the view that opportunity should be provided to artists belonging to different hues to represent their country abroad. Islamic calligraphy should not be the only art promoted. Iqbal described his paintings as something that people can relate to and the viewer can recall memories nostalgically as it strikes one at the heart. He has tried to question the cultural mores of our society and shown the hypocrites that we are through his paintings.
The preview was a well-arranged affair with the journalists being treated to a cuppa or a drink along with an assortment of delicacies. However, the inauguration was scheduled for the following day.
My next stop was at Pakistan National Council of Arts to hear Dr.Najma Najam give her views on 'Dialogue on Art'. Dr. Najma is an eminent educationist and vice chancellor of Fatima Jinnah Women's University. She is an eloquent speaker who speaks from her heart. Her talk was interspersed with real life experiences and anecdotes that were listened to by all and sundry with rapt attention. Excerpts from her informal talk include that 'God has given a human being one life to live and He will question each one of us as to how did we make it fruitful and fulfilling through creativity.' She read three of her latest poems depicting her creative fluency in English. The first two were titled ' I am woman' and the third one was ' I am mother.'
She recounted the initial difficulties in the creation of the Fatima Jinnah University. However, she single-mindedly pursued her goal and within the stipulated three weeks, she started a university from nothing. It was an impossibility that happened due to the problem-solving attitude and a firm commitment.
The talk was followed by an interactive question-answer session. Responding to a query she said that people say she has a Pollyanna attitude, which means that she is looking for a silver lining in every cloud. She said that she always thinks positively. Recounting her twenty-eight years stay at the Punjab University, she mentioned that she underwent a number of painful traumas. "Life was not a bed of roses" she said. However, the traumas were faced positively and each one added to her strength to move forward.
She said that life's unpleasant experiences should be considered like fallen leaves. And these should be collected and placed in a ditch so that new compost is formed. Similarly the buried experiences should be used to grow again in the hope and anticipation of a better tomorrow.
Explaining her manner of responding to questions with narratives, she said that "we are a nation of story tellers." Concluding she said that creativity would remain alive as long as the man has the ability to think and feel. She said a 'fake' is also creativity but it in not an original masterpiece. Further explaining she said that a man would create for himself and not essentially for portraying the social ethos of that era. However, later on the philosophers and critics would classify his work relative to his times as art is reflective how the environment has affected an individual on a personal level.
A tinker on my mobile by Leyla Zuberi, a consultant at Takshilla was a gracious invitation extended out to attend the Mehfil-e-Samaa' at Takshilla South Asian Centre of Literature and Performing Arts.
The event was arranged to pay a tribute to Aziz Mian Qawaal (Late) by his son Imran Aziz Mian.It was an entrancing evening with Imran Aziz taking the audience to enthralling heights with his passionate performance.
Background on Takshilla is that it is the name of an ancient city that is beyond the northern crest of Islamabad, the modern day Taxila.It was here that the Alexander the Great dined with Buddha, scholars, poets and musicians. It is an institution that draws inspiration from the traditional forms of learning in South Asia reflective in the murshad talib relationship. The ideals looked up to and immulated include the immortal Sufi masters such as Bullhe Shah and Rumi. Takshilla center is working on a number of fronts. It provides a platform to fledgling artists so that they could realize their true potential. It is a place where reconnaissance of creativity takes place involving arts, culture and music. In addition the center is opening classes in April relating to art, culture and music with the maestros taking the classes themselves.
Let me end on a quote of Buddha:
" Live in this world as a lotus flower
Half buried in muddy water, yet above it."
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