Just last week we saw a group of young students, enthusiast of art and culture put up an exhibition in Karachi, by the name of “Unique Pakistan – “Aisa Bhi Hai Pakistan.” This exhibition was all about highlighting the rich, diverse and colorful culture of Pakistan not realized through the Media to the rest of the world.
This was a 3-day photographic exhibition, which started off as a competition displaying the best of the best 100 photographs of Pakistan, under the two categories of Tourism, and People & Culture. From breathtaking photographs of Pakistan’s most attractive scenic Northern topography to highlighting the regular city life highlighting the beauty and culture of Pakistan’s dynamic cities, and its people.
This year round school going children of Beaconhouse School System (BSS) were also involved in a model-making competition. Unique Pakistan collaborated with Beaconhouse and involved 120 students in Karachi to participate in the competition. A total of 50 best art displays of Pakistani monuments were exhibited as part of this competition.
“Aisa Bhi Hai Pakistan” was exhibited at Pakistan’s most renowned Art Gallery, the Sadequain Art Gallery, at Frere Hall. This particular Art Gallery houses the “Arz-o-Samawat” (Earth & Heavens) a ceiling mural one of his greatest works in Oil and Marker, is also his last artistic piece. He died in 1987, before he could complete it, leaving several canvases blank, testimony to an interrupted masterpiece.
Unique Pakistan decided to hold their exhibition at the Sadequain Art Gallery which just reopened after a yearlong of renovation, being held at the Gallery. Sadequain is arguably responsible for the renaissance of Islamic calligraphy in Pakistan. His calligraphies represent the most radical departure from the established norms for hundreds of years. The centuries-old guarded traditions, watchful eyes of the religious police, or pitfalls of the uncharted waters did not deter him from going where few had ventured before him. He invented his own iconography and produced a dizzying array of calligraphic marvels at such large scales that had not been witnessed in recent history. His art became the most effective ambassador for the country and his impact was so profound, that on a number of occasions, Pakistan was represented in international forums only by Sadequain`s masterpieces.
In my view, Unique Pakistan was a great exhibition exhibiting under one of Pakistan’s greatest artist known in history, thus coming full circle highlighting Pakistan as a positive and a progressive country, indulging in art. Yet, the disappointing factor was that though the exhibition was visited by some 3000 citizens of Karachi, mostly the youth of Pakistan it was not able to grab the attention of the elitist who seem to love scream about portraying a positive image of Pakistan, but also take a back foot when it is really the time to brand Pakistan positively. Even, the Media played its deceiving role of not highlighting such a great exhibit under the greatest art galleries found in our country.
Please note, that the views on this blog are of the writers, you may agree or disagree with them. Also, do comment and give your feedback as to how we can promote Pakistan further positively.
