The two-day April 14-15 colourful song and dance performances by visiting troupe from the Peoples Republic of China staged at the Lahore Council of Arts enthralled the fun loving people of Lahore. Thirteen dances presented by the Chinese artistes began with a dance named Thangla from Tibet, which reflected the cultural traditions of different autonomous regions of the Peoples Republic of China. Other attractive numbers of the grand show were the portrayal of early Chinese civilisation, which was presented in the form of a rainbow. A couple of items depicted by the Chinese artistes were the centuries-old statues of their motherland reflecting life in the rural hinterland.
A female member of the Chinese troupe to the delight of the audiences played on Arhoo, a traditional Chinese musical instrument. These items of the repertoire of the visiting Chinese artistes were repeated on the second day of their visit to Lahore at the same venue.
Three exhibitions of paintings were held during the week at different places in the city, which attracted the attention of art lovers and media persons.
The City School Lahore Shalimar Campus arranged a colourful art and science exhibition, which was kicked off by Mrs Sajida Vandal, Principal of National College of Arts, Lahore. The participating students made models of monuments from the ancient Egyptian civilisation while a group of senior students highlighted "Inventions and Discoveries". One thing was clear. The students had put in a lot of hard work in preparing the exhibition, which won them kudos from art critics and the viewers.
A weeklong group exhibition of drawings and prints by four graduates from the National College of Arts opened at the Nairang Galleries on April 12. The artists whose works were put on display at the exhibition were original and innovative in their approach to art.
On the same day, Mrs Bushra Matin, Vice Chancellor of Lahore College for Women University inaugurated an exhibition of calligraphy, flower arrangements, hand-painted garments, rugs and candle stands made by the students of LCWU's Home Economics Department. Speaking on the occasion, she lauded the efforts of the students in preparing the exhibition in an impressive way. A panel comprising the vice-chancellor and teachers evaluated the items on display and selected the winners of the three prizes.
The Punjab Provincial Secretary for Culture Mr Taimur Azmat Usman inaugurated on April 14 at Coopera Art Gallery an exhibition of resplendent images titled "Expression of Subconscious", which included the works of Dr Ahmed Balal. Through his paintings, the artist tried to give vent to his creative expression about "the new horizons of graphic arts" through ink and pen. He claimed "to depict the mathematical expression in an art form".
A physician and economist by training and a civil servant by profession, Ahmed Balal takes pride in being the son of a teacher. His penchant for self-expression took him hitchhiking across deserts and trekking deep into the inner streets of Lahore. A connoisseur of music and poetry, and a student of history, philosophy, religion and culture, his thirst for experience also took him to places as far as Iranian and Afghan borders and as near as the National College of Arts, Lahore, where he has been a member of the visiting faculty.
Ranging from psychological processes and human emotions to celestial phenomena and theological expression, Dr Balal has graphically presented his imagination through his works displayed at the exhibition.
A tract of land near Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore has been selected for the construction of a building for the Punjab Institute of Language, Arts and Culture for which a sum of Rs 80 million has been sanctioned by the provincial government. The ground-breaking ceremony of the building is likely to be performed by the provincial Chief Minister. Established a year ago, the Institute has been temporarily housed in a rented bungalow in a posh locality in the city. The appointments of its Director-General, a. Director and a few middle rank officials have so far been notified, while other staff members will be recruited soon.
More than 3,000 Sikhs arrived in Lahore during the week under review to celebrate Baisakhi festival at Gurdawa Panja Sahib on April 11. Besides India, Sikh yatrees from Europe, Middle East, North American continent and Afghanistan were also included in the group of visitors. After performing rituals at Panja Sahib, the Sikh pilgrims visited a number of Gurdawaras located at different places in the Punjab, including Lahore.
Celebration of Baisakhi festival means the renewal of a pledge to promote harmony and brotherhood among the people as is enshrined in Sikh religion and the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs.
Death occurred in Lahore on April 16 of Amjad Bobby, a noted composers of film songs. He was 61. During his long career late Amjad is reported to have composed songs for about 70 films produced at different studios located in Lahore. Before taking up assignments as an independent composer he spent several periods of apprenticeship with a number of senior music directors of Pakistan.
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