Pakistani Art Keeps Going After All!

Reading the instablogs post Mediocrity at The Rise in Arts in Pakistan I happened to remember a recent article Technology of images, blown glass go on display today, published in Daily Times, January 29, 2009. Mahtab Bashir, in that piece, reported the opening of different art styles for exhibition in Saidpur. It was a joy to see that there are talented people like Ubaid Syed and Anjum Ayub whose creativity speaks for the evolving art forms in Pakistan. At the same time, international artists are also actualizing their creative potential in Pakistan.

art bueVH 17659

The current exhibition is running at the Nomad Gallery, Saidpur Village, and presents three distinctive styles in art: Ubaid Syed’s paintings, inspired by nature and the grand design that shows in it; Anjum Ayub’s print paintings that blend a variety of etching techniques; and Dutch artist Martin Willem’s blown glass and stained glass items. All three artists have exhibited their works in many parts of the world and the current exhibition, meant to continue till the 15th of February, happens to be a truly international show.

It is worthwhile to mention that Constance C. Jones, a US embassy official in Islamabad, recently lauded Pakistani art at the National Art Gallery (NAG). While theater has lately come under attack, both verbal and physical, in some parts of the country, Pakistani theater still remains a major source of public entertainment in big cities like Lahore. The project of constructing the National Theater Project is already in progress. What we need at the moment is more publicity for the unique Pakistani art, both within the country and abroad. Also needed is the dissolution of the line between artistic creativity and aspiring artists of lower economic classes.