The Jharoka Art Gallery, informally launched in the first week of November this year, has again come up this week with another exhibition titled "Contemporary Artists of Pakistan" at its premises. The display offers works by 34 painters representing a variety of schools and styles.
These include, in senior segment, Professor Ahmad Khan, Mansur Rahi, Hajira Mansur, Mansur Aye, Rabia Zuberi, Ghalib Baqer, Ghulam Rasul, Tariq Javed and Nahida Raza. Besides, one could enjoy the work by Ahmad Habib, Arjumand Awan, Arjumand Faisal, Rifat Khatak, Raheela Asadi, Sara Shaikh, Tabussum Rizvi and others.
Nahida Raza, a prolific painter and the moving spirit behind the JAG, described the exhibition as the coincidence of the formal launch of the Gallery. The reason behind opening of a new gallery in the capital is, as she explains,"With the development of media, communications and the enlightenment, the art and the culture was able to develop and expand. The boost in the art activities meant that the public art galleries were not enough and needed immediate expansion in order to meet the growing demand. The public at large appreciated the private owned art galleries where the artists, critics, art lovers and people with aesthetic taste could assemble, view the work of contemporary artists with ease and leisure and could discuss the subject at length."
A bird's eye view of the exhibition reflects a remarkable leap forward in the totality of present day artistic creativity. A majority of artists has delinked itself from the interior decoration phenomenon and preferably developed deep association with the burning issues of socio cultural life being faced by the humanity in general. A strong trend of braving the new experiments in the areas of techniques has also been witnessed in the younger generation of painters. This encouraging development moved most of the serious viewers who opined it "a promising future of our art scene."
Dialogue on art: A cultural interaction called "Dialogue on Art" with eminent playwright, columnist and story writer Intizar Hussain was held under the auspices of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts at National Art Gallery on December 18.
The Dialogue on Art had been the most prestigious and popular intellectual interaction for over two years. The format of the programme was very simple with the solo discourse by a designated person of eminence in the areas of art, culture, literature and other allied segments of creativity. The monthly event was graced by the participation of people like Ashfaque Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi, Professor Kh, Masood, Hanif Ramay, Ali Imam, Nahid Siddiqui, Aslam Azher, Anwar Maqood, Ahmad Faraz, Sarmad Sehbai, Nayyar Ali Dada, Dr Anwar Sajjad, Sardar Asef Ahmad Ali and many others.
It is a sign of satisfaction that Naeem Tahir has once again revived the abandoned tradition of the Dialogue on Art and invited eminent literary stalwart Intizar Hussain to present his viewpoint about creativity. Intizar Hussain referred to intellectual interactivity among poets, painters, writers and scholars as a good source of creativity. Describing the nostalgic old days memories he said that painters and scholars like Shakir Ali, Shemza, Hanif Ramay and Salahuddin used to spend hours in discussing core issues surrounding the humanity at large. This process of sharing each other's experience and expertise, vision and wisdom further enhance the creative process in all the segments of arts and literature.
The veteran literary figure urged the artists to uphold the process of creativity directly attached with the purpose of promoting peace, harmony and aesthetic sense in the society. He also asked the art and cultural managers to promote the true spirit of creativity based on the national heritage and socio cultural values of the people. He hoped that the art institutions would not be turned into monuments made of marble and concrete. Intizar Hussain lamented on the state of invasion of extra commercialism inflicted on the theatrical segment.
Iftikhar Arif, Yasmin Tahir, Hameed Alvi, Zaheer Bhatti and Akmal Aleemi also shared their old days memories with Intizar Hussain on this occasion.
A singing evening with budding artist: It was indeed a memorable concert with the promising singer Furukh Mehdi organised by The Islamabad Music Society (TIMS).
TIMS has been engaged in the promotion and projection of music as the real instrument of love, peace and aesthetic. This year it organised eight concerts in the capital to the sublimation of the music lovers and art enthusiasts.
The organisation also attaches great importance to the nourishment of the budding artists, a prerequisite for the continuity of tradition, evolution and progression of the arts. This time it presented young and budding singer Furukh Mehdi, a student of eminent Pakistani singer Mehdi Hassan.
Furukh Mehdi in the beginning got the lessons in light music and vocal singing from music teachers like Semuel Gil, Ustad Munir and Manzoor Hussain of Rawalpindi. The genres of ghazal and geet stand as the most favourite with the artist. With his persistent exercise, dedication and commitment Furukh developed his singing faculties to such an extent that in 1997, eminent Pakistani ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan accepted him as his pupil and polished the young Furukh with his professional tutelage.
In the concert Furukh Mehdi began with one of the most popular ghazal by poet Ahmad Faraz 'ranjish he sahee' and won instant applause of the audience. The intensity of sentiments embodied in the poetic verses was so skillfully portrayed by the singer through his tonal variations, lyrical and melodious charm that every one present was moved. It followed recitals in the compositions of Mehdi Hassan and Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. During these items the young singer showed his sentiment of respect and reverence for the great music stalwarts. Furukh Mehdi also sang poetic verses by classical poets like Mir Taqi Mir and Bahadur Shah Zafar, Qateel Shifaee and Munir Niazi.
One of the most significant aspects of the concert was the accompaniment of Ustad Mohammad Ajmal on tabla. The thrilling and dancing fingers of the tabla player added beauty and charm to the concert.
THE ARCHITECTS OF PAKISTANI LITERATURE: In the backdrop of vanishing culture of book reading, publishing of three more literary titles under the series of 'Pakistani Adab Kay Memaar' (the architects of Pakistani literature) by Pakistan Academy of Letters deserves acclaim by the civil society. The new trio of publication envisages books on the life and work of great intellectual and writer Mumtaz Mufti, renowned poets Zia Jalundhary and Ahmad Faraz.
The living societies always recognise the genius of their people. Unfortunately due to a lamented process of degeneration we have been becoming alien to such cherished values. Iftikhar Arif, with his persistent endeavours and commitment to the cause of literature, has gracefully revived the tradition of recognising the contribution and services of men of letters. For it a composite package of publication of books on eminent writers and poets was introduced. Over 50 books have already been published under this program.
The new trio of publication about Mumtaz Mufti, Zia Jalundhari and Ahmad Faraz is yet one step forward in this direction. The literary circles appreciated the new addition of books on the architects of Pakistani literature. Mumtaz Mufti is recognised as a world class story writer who also contributed in genres of travelogue, sketching and playwriting. Zia Jallundhary throughout his life created poetry in a beautiful and harmonious synthesis of traditional and modern sensibilities. Ahmad Faraz is a poet of human sentiments and sensibilities.
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