The capital city would soon have yet another nucleus of art and cultural activities as the National Centre for Performing Arts, with a National Theatre as its most vibrant segment of activities. The new cultural project would be established in an area of 7 acres at Shakarparian Park.
The idea of National Centre for Performing Arts with a National Theatre was conceived and visualised by Naeem Tahir, an eminent art and cultural stalwart with international recognition of his expertise in the handling of complex cultural management projects and accomplishing cultural infrastructures like the Alhamra, Lahore and the National Art Gallery, Islamabad.
While explaining the conceptual perspective of the project, Naeem Tahir explained that Pakistan is a land of a rich cultural heritage and a glorious tradition of creativity in all genres of artistic pursuits. Our land has been the abode of the world's most ancient civilisations like Moenjodaro, Mehargarh, Haruppa and Gandhara. With the passage of time our artists and artisans had created wonderful traditions of unimaginable creativity.
Thus they had added to enriching our cultural heritage. The idea of adding yet another state of the art infrastructure like the National Centre for Perfroming Arts. The art scene of the capital city is a credit to our great heroes in the field of art and culture. We must resolve to keep their creative tradition alive for posterity.
The National Centre for Performing Arts would have an institute of performing arts, archives of intangible heritage and an academy of integrated arts. There would be a variety of auditoriums with the National Theatre representing the ancient, traditional and modern patterns equipped with gadgets of their respective era. It would help in learning the sensibilities of theatrical arts. The centre would offer facilities for puppetry, experimental theatre, traditional and modern presentations of musical events etc. It is said that the National center for performing arts would prove a nucleus of art activities as well as a reputed seat of learning.
DELICACY AND BEAUTY OF WOODEN ART: Ustad Muhammad Ali Chishti, 80 is perhaps the only most senior and seasoned artist-cum-artisan who has opted for the medium of wood for expression and projection of his inner self. The National Art Gallery has arranged a most charming exhibition of wooden masterpieces created and crafted by the Ustad on May 15. Most of the work relates to the genre of furniture with carving, geometrical patterns and Swati modes of decorative expression etc.
Ustad Muhammad Ali Chishti adopted the craft of wood work at the age of 10 under the patronage of Sikh craftsman in the East Punjab. With his persistent adherence to the craft for over 70 years he kept the spark of creativity enlivened. He attaches great importance to the texture of wood which keeps its own ingredients like inbuilt threads, clots, colors with a variety of tonal shades and a combination of softness and hardened surface.
According to Ustad Chishty, a true craftsman always maintains a synthesis of his concept, perception and style and the basic characteristics of the wooden medium. Ustad humbly expresses his love for creativity and innovation. He never copies and always prefers to translate his own ideas into any form like furniture and wall hangings etc. With an experience of over 40 years of teaching at the National College of Arts, Ustad had produced a number of artists and craftsmen who are engaged in the field.
The wooden exhibits displayed at the exhibition offer a variety of geometric patterns, floral schemes. 'Pakistan is indeed a land of rich cultural heritage and its artists and artisans really love their heritage. They are the true ambassadors of their cultural repository of love, peace, harmony and co-existence' these were the comments by a foreign lady who visited the exhibition and treated it as the finest moment of her life to see the true face of the Pakistani nation.
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