A couple of exhibitions of paintings and one of cartoons, a stage play, a music concert and of course the 2007 Marathon race were the highlights of cultural events in the city during last week.
'Heart to Heart' was the title of the exhibition of miniature paintings of Farheen Maqsood that opened at Rohtas-2 Art Gallery on January 9. A student of National College of Arts Farheen showcased 19 miniature paintings, which she claimed to have produced in two years' time.
The works displayed at Rohtas-2 clearly indicated some new dimensions as regards traditional art of miniature paintings. The reflected personal emotions and relationships' that was why it was called autobiographical works communicating a subtle tone along with a re-interpretations of popular imagery. Like other miniature painters, Farheen too brought out personalised renderings that were not considered traditional themes, which were once a popular form of composition in this genre of painting.
An exhibition of 31 art pieces made in acrylics on canvas by Karachi-based Aziz Hasan opened at Nairang Art in Lahore Gallery on January 10, which was kicked off by Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali, a former Foreign Minister of Pakistan. Among the attendees at the inaugural ceremony of the exhibition were a number of noted artists, including Nayyar Ali Dada, Anwar Pasha and Shahid Malik. A businessman by profession and an artist by avocation Aziz used different gaudy and dazzling colours in his paintings, it was his sixth solo exhibition at Nairang. Inspired by Gulgee and Sufi poet Rumi, which became a driving force for him to produce his works that reflected his strong passion for art. The inaugural ceremony of the exhibition of his paintings was attended by students of art, a large number of the representatives of media and members of local social elite.
Insan Foundation in collaboration with India World Comics sponsored an exhibition of grassroots comics at the Bakhtiar Labour Hall in Lahore on January 9. It was the outcome of a three-day workshop organised by Insan Foundation and conducted by Indian Cartoonist Sharad Sharma.
The exhibition featured comics drawn by students, media persons and social activists on the topics of violence against women, gender discrimination, water scarcity, children's rights, health and several other social issues. Cartoonist Sharma observed that drawing of comics was a powerful medium with which awareness could be created among the people about a number of pressing social issues where words failed to reach them out.
The Government College University dramatic club (GCDC) presented George Bernard Shaw's famous play 'You Never Can Tell' on two consecutive nights, January 12 and 13 at its Bokhari Auditorium, which was applauded by a large number of students from GCU and other educational institutions who came to watch the play. They appreciated its production values and the performances of the cast.
Sufi Ghulam Mustafa's translation of William Shakespeare's 'A Mid Summer Night's Dream' was scheduled to be staged by GCDC on 16th and 17th of the month by GCDC at the same venue.
The All Pakistan Music Conference sponsored a concert on the night of January 8 as an event in its monthly series of music programmes at the Lahore Arts Council in which Ustad Hamid Ali Khan of Patiala gharana of professional musicians demonstrated his melodic prowess. The government of the Punjab, will help in the setting up of a Chinese Cultural Centre in Lahore. Established on the pattern of other bi-national cultural centers like the French and German the Chinese outfit will be named as the Punjab Jiangsu Cultural Centre.
According to provincial Secretary of Information, Culture and Youth Affairs the Chinese Cultural Centre will be housed in a rented building and will help in strengthening the already existing friendly relations between the peoples and governments of Pakistan and the Peoples Republic of China.
On January 8 the Additional Secretary in-charge of the Chief Minister's Monitoring Cell on behalf of the provincial Chief Executive presented a bouquet to the ailing senior TV, stage and film actress Roohi Bano. Once the most popular actress she is now spending the evening of her life in total seclusion. The senior official of the provincial government made the presentation at Fountain House, where Roohi Bano has been admitted for treatment of her mental diseases. The Punjab Governor's recent initiative in asking the Lahore Arts Council to institute performing arts classes at the intermediate and bachelor levels has been welcomed by the people. Many big cities in Pakistan do have arts councils but not much seems to have been done toward the promotion of music as an academic discipline. The interest taken by the Punjab Governor will hopefully help in the promotion and preservation of our rich melodic heritage.
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