Mehreen Ilahi on Wednesday had invited a select group of her guests to see the group-painting exhibition of five outstanding painters who have established their identity through their subjects, preferences for colours and style of strokes.
Tabinda Chinoy, Kazim, Mansoor Aye, Aliya Durrani and Sadiq had put up their best at display. A critical appreciation of the work is not the purpose here therefore it should suffice to say that the exhibition was a whiff of fresh air for the art lovers whose craving for well-executed pieces of creative and expressive paintings never get quenched. However, quality paintings provide them with some respite and give them hope to live to see a better future of fine arts in Pakistan. Majmua had quality paintings on display and it would not be too much to expect from this art gallery to come up with more painting exhibitions of the same kind.
Mehreen Ilahi, the soul behind the show, is herself a creative and versatile TV actress whom people still remember for her performance in some of the memorable TV serials. She has been looking for a better place to shift her art gallery. She has now found a new home for Majmua The Art Gallery in the posh Clifton commercial area - 22-E, Mazzanine Floor, Lane 5, Zamzama Street, Clifton. Though the space for an art gallery is not enough but continued display of quality works would make new premises of Majmua look spacious.
The painting exhibition served three purposes. It was the opening of the new premises of Majmua, launch of a book "Bachay Aur Masail" on child psychology by Musarrat Akram and announcement of three awards to women journalists who have excelled in their professional work.
The awards are " Razia Bhatti Award, Shaista Ikramullah Award and Najma Babur Award. The Media Women Journalists and Publishers Organization is the sponsors of these awards. Musarrat Akram was given Shaista Ikramullah Award for her contribution towards social and cultural articles, Rashida Afghan, the women photographer in the profession for the last more than thirty years, got the Razia Bhatti Award and Humaira Athar won the Najma Babur Award. Athar has remained associated with Akhbar-e-Khawateen for a long time. She has been writing on social and political issues but the fame came to her through her articles on women's issues.