An exhibition of the works of late Anwar Jalal Shamza and his wife Katrina, the celebrations connected with Spring Festival and International Book Fair were the cultural highlights in Lahore during.
The National College of Arts provided its facilities for the holding of an exhibition of the paintings of the late Anwar Jalal Shamza and his wife Mary Katrina on February 28.
A large number of connoisseurs, teachers and students of art were present on the opening day of the exhibition. Anwar Jalal Shamza was among the Pakistani masters who brought creative, innovative paintings to the highest resolution. From his youth in Pakistan at Independence in August 1947 until the time of his death in 1985 in UK, he was engaged in artistic exploration expressed in several conceptual themes, geometric, calligraphic, tonal and linear, all rooted in his Asian Islamic heritage.
From early 1950s onwards, he exhibited his works in groups and in one-man shows in Pakistan and UK. His paintings have been purchased by national collections in Pakistan, UK, Austria and by private collectors world-wide.
His wife, Mary Katrina Shemza's work is a distillation of her visual and technical experience. She chooses to combine the qualities and elements that are value to her. A non-figurative painter since 1960, her work is celebratory in outlook and intuitive in approach, she paints and also nade sculptrs.
The much-hyped 20th International Book Fair was inaugurated on March 2 by Punjab Governor Lieutenant General (R) Khalid Maqbool at the Expo Center, Fortress Stadium, Lahore.
With over two thousand stalls maintained by local and foreign publishers, the event is claimed to be the biggest in the history of Punjab. Book fairs are means to inculcate reading habits among the people, especially students in Pakistan where reading culture does not exist and the prices of books are beyond the reach of a vast majority of educated people.
Publishers in Pakistan are not enthusiastic about publishing serious books and what they publish do not go beyond a print run of 1,000 and in many cases only 500 copies. In this scenario, promotion of books poses a serious challenge to the organisers of book fairs.
Only if they reduce the prices of their books and the government also subsidise the costs of new books will the people be inclined to purchase new books in the subjects of their choices. Nevertheless, the organisers of the 20th Lahore International Book Fair should receive a pat on the back for holding the book fair under such difficult circumstances. The Parks and Horticulture Authority has completed arrangements for the Spring Festival, which includes performances by different musical bands and a grand musical night.
The sponsors claimed that a group of British singers and dancers from the Northern Areas and NWFP would also perform during the 25-day long festival. Other features of the festival include exhibitions of handicrafts, availability of traditional Pakistani food, an exclusive show by special children, a bird show, a flower show and dog show. The Punjab Minister for Housing inaugurated the festival on March 6.
A week ahead of Basant, the annual festival of kite-flying the citizens of Lahore, especially youth, celebrated a mini Basant on the night of March 4 as a curtain raiser for the big event that is scheduled for March 12. "Basant in Lahore" was the title of a well-attended exhibition of works of carving and printing by Mahboob Ali, which was inaugurated by the Lahore City Nazim at Humail Art Gallery on March 1.
A graduate from National College of Arts, the Lahore-born artist seemed to have been much fascinated by Basant when thousands of multi-colour kites dot the city skyline. This fascination of his has found an _expression in his works put up for public viewing at the Humail Art Gallery. His exhibition is the culmination of many years' fascination and hard work.
On March 1, the Gardenia Flower Arrangement Society of Pakistan arranged a flower arrangement contest at picturesque Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore. Students from a number of local educational institution participated in different categories of the contest, which included arrangement of dry and fresh flowers, the Japanese style of arrangement, drawing room arrangement, dining table, basket and container arrangements. Prizes in different categories of participation were given to the successful contestants. This activity was also related to the Spring Festival.
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