Using art to create peace and harmony is like an antidote to the ailment of terrorism. Art acts as a positive pole to repel and nullify the negative one. Art is a hope to a better society. While receiving an invitation to a group show of inmates of the Karachi Central Jail I remembered visiting Central Jail Karachi two years ago on an invitation to distribute the proceeds to the inmate artists collected by selling their paintings at various art galleries in Karachi who studied art of painting at Central Jail Karachi's Fine Art School. And that was a pleasing experience to see such a change brought by art in those inmates.
With an aim to promote the artistic talent of inmates of the Karachi Central Jail Present IG Central Jail Karachi, Nusrat Mangan who believed that colours could create interest and help nurture socially acceptable behaviour among inmates commenced Fine Arts School in Central Jail Karachi in 2007. Since its inception many known artists visited the school to lecture. Some time later after its opening Sikandar Ali Jogi was hired as a full time teacher and since then has taught over 500 prisoners at the school. Out of released students many pursued careers as artists, of them at least 25 are still in contact with their alma mater.
To appreciate and encourage these budding artists the Central Jail Karachi arranged art exhibitions at different art galleries of Karachi such as: Ocean Art Gallery, Art Chowk Gallery, Arts council and Sadequain Gallery, Frare Hall and at Alliance Francise Karachi. Khalil Ahmed director Ocean Art Gallery, Karachi was the first to take initiative to display the artworks of inmates at his private art gallery. All the paintings displayed at the exhibition of inmates were framed free of cost by him to encourage the budding artists.
Following the good cause of these galleries recently Artciti Art Gallery, Karachi held an exhibition titled "ARTpeace" where 112 paintings by 18 students of Central Jail Karachi's Fine Art School were displayed.
The participants at the exhibition included: Ahsan, Akbar, Ashfaq, Aziz Bugti, Faraz, Hasnain, Iftekhar, Irfan, Jawed, Jawad Hussain, Kashif, Kazim, Rafaqat, Rajab, Sajid, Samar, Sudheer and Shariq During conversation it was revealed that how the art of painting changed their views about life. Each and every artwork at the show depicts a story of its own. The inmate artists use their paintings to narrate their stories through colours.
A painting showed two hands bound together with a rope, while the other another had fish swimming in a group and a boy standing at a door waiting for someone to come. A girl is seen weeping behind a book but can see everybody through the eye of the book means education can wipe the tears and can become your eyes to see the world. And abstract colourful paintings by Kazim were a delight to see. While Husnain's horse race through a canvas and Aziz Bugti painted a beautiful landscape of his village.
The prisoners have freedom to paint and they use this freedom of expression mostly in abstract form. With intelligent use of colours and experiments with techniques these inmates created a variety of paintings having diverse subjects. But all the works reflects strong personal and social messages.
Each painting was unique as it depicted a concept by each inmate, displaying a variety of emotions and themes. The use of varied colour tones shows the intensity of the theme. Many inmate artists' lines and drawing speak volumes for their skill and talent. And learning arts and crafts has brought joy in the lives of these people. While going through their paintings it can felt that they were giving a message that we wanted to be creative and productive citizens of society.
The exhibition was a good initiative at a time when executions are taking place and the environment inside the Central Jail Karachi was stressful. Such events brought hope in the inmates.
All the proceeds went to families of these convicts in hope of encouraging them to create a better future for them. It will provide them an opportunity to channel their energy into something positive, along with a chance to raise self-respect and confidence within themselves in order to become positive contributors to the society.
An arts and crafts gallery was also planned to be open soon in the central jail premises where the artworks of the inmates would be displayed on permanent basis in order to promote the work of the prisoners and encourage them.
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