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    'I Live Pakistan': An Exhibition of 26 Artists at Studio Seven Karachi

    Written by: Nageen Shaikh
    Posted on: January 02, 2017 |

    'My First Love' by Abdul Jabbar Gull

    Studio Seven in Karachi is celebrating Pakistani art, culture and society by putting up a wonderful show of 26 renowned artists, capturing the patriotic spirit of Pakistanis belonging to various age groups. I Live Pakistan consists of a combination of works by versatile artists and sculptors, who have each put up one piece of art reflecting the spirit of the country. The theme of the exhibition centers on the Pakistani flag, which has been interpreted in diverse ways to produce striking and thought-provoking works of art.

    The show is being curated by acclaimed artists Irfan Gul and R.M. Naeem. The latter runs the Studio RM, which has collaborated with Studio Seven for this exhibition. Irfan Gul, hailing from the National College of Arts Lahore, has been a recipient of art camps and residencies for several years. His work for the current exhibition is remarkable: a huge installation that uses mixed media to form rectangles representing the national flag, titled Tera Mera. R.M. Naeem has also showcased exceptional skill by putting up a beautiful rendition of the flag titled Take Off, with a faint image of a plane in the background.

    Art Exhibition ‘I Live Pakistan’ at Studio Seven Karachi

    'An Event in History' by Noorjehan Bilgrami

    The artworks comprise different textures and materials, ranging from oil and acrylic paints to mixed media such as wood, ceramics, glass, fiber and gold sheet paper (locally known as panni). The multitalented Noor Jehan Bilgrami has produced An Event in History, which shows the Quaid-i-Azam, Fatima Jinnah and Mohandas Gandhi in the Partition era. Rahat Naveed, former Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Punjab, portrays everyday life in Pakistan with the exquisitely painted Field of Dreams, which features a woman sitting beside a fruit stand. A thoughtful sculpture titled Shad Baad Manzile Murad comes from Munawar Ali Syed, who is a faculty member at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, as well as the University of Karachi.

    Maria Khan works with charcoal in black and red for her piece titled Blooming Bouqet, in which the star of the national flag can be seen amidst three red roses. Hamid Ali Hanbhi uses oil on canvas to paint two burqa-clad females, whereas Ali Azmat shows the Pakistani flag tied up with fabric binders. Ashan Jamal, on the other hand, approaches the theme in a very different way. He renders his canvas in dark hues of charcoal, depicting a cricket lover decorating his room in green and white. This artwork is especially engaging, as it symbolizes a glimmer of hope from the surrounding darkness binding all of us together, as we seek out a world of hope and positive change.

    Art Exhibition ‘I Live Pakistan’ at Studio Seven Karachi

    'Grass Stained and Sky Doused' by Dua Abbas

    Artists belonging to the younger generation depict a Pakistan filled with hope and a vision of positivity. Dua Abbas’s Grass Stained and Sky Doused is an intriguing work in oil, ink and pencil with a ‘90s touch, which features a woman sitting in a white frock, holding a traditionally designed box. Sajid Khan uses watercolor on wasli to compile several small images that use the motif of the flag throughout. Interestingly, one of the standout works comes from Abid Aslam in the form of mixed media. Titled Evergreen, this piece shows a man sitting in a rickshaw, which is a popular mode of transport in the country. By representing the rickshaw in the colors and design of the flag, Aslam’s fascinating work successfully captures the spirit of the local culture and its importance in our lives.

    Art Exhibition ‘I Live Pakistan’ at Studio Seven Karachi

    'Evergreen' by Abid Aslam

    Other versatile works include Gama Pakistan by Amra Khan, The Sky I Lived For by Afshaar Mallik, and My First Love by Abdul Jabbar Gull. It is interesting to note that most artists have used the theme of the flag as a direct motif, and have induced a sense of patriotism in their works in one way or another.

    As expected, the exhibition has been warmly received by art enthusiasts as well as art critics. The galley was packed with visitors, artists and curators on the opening day, providing an ideal transition into the New Year. The exhibition will continue till January 17, 2017.

    Art Exhibition ‘I Live Pakistan’ at Studio Seven Karachi

    'I Live Pakistan' by Masood Alam Khan

     

    All images have been provided by Studio Seven Gallery


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021