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                        <title>Art Books, Authors Books - The Express Tribune</title>
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                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
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			<title>South Asian film festivals all set to go digital</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2255014/south-asian-film-festivals-all-set-to-go-digital</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2255014/south-asian-film-festivals-all-set-to-go-digital#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 20 13:37:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Film]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2255014</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Seven different South Asian festivals will be merging together for the event]]>
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				<![CDATA[South Asian film festivals in the U.S. and Canada have decided to merge their efforts into one online event running Oct. 3-17, reported Variety.&nbsp;

The digital extravaganza includes seven festivals coming together as a coalition, a statement from which shared that&nbsp;the virtual festival will run for 15 days, streaming&nbsp;films and hosting Q&amp;As with filmmakers, as well as conversations on industry topics related to the South Asian community. The festivals participating in the event include,&nbsp;Tasveer&nbsp;South Asian Film Festival in Seattle; Chicago and Washington, D.C., and Vancouver fests; Mosaic International Festival in Toronto; Nepal America fest in Maryland; and the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal.&nbsp;

A statement the Coalition of South Asian Film Festivals stated that it is curating &quot;cutting-edge, critically acclaimed films and making them accessible to the public for free.&quot; The lineup has not been decided as yet, however, according to organisers,&nbsp;featured films will be from those released in 2019 and 2020.&nbsp;All the films will be available to stream on Vimeo OTT,

&ldquo;CoSAFF&rsquo;s efforts will provide filmmakers an opportunity to showcase their hard work to the widest possible audience in a respectful and secure manner. And, in turn, for all our audiences to have a shared experience watching these films without the burden of having to pay for them,&rdquo;&nbsp;quoted&nbsp;Variety&nbsp;from the statement.&nbsp;

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			<title>Lahore Arts Council to digitally re-launch monthly cultural series</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2254994/lahore-arts-council-to-digitally-re-launch-monthly-cultural-series</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2254994/lahore-arts-council-to-digitally-re-launch-monthly-cultural-series#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 20 08:47:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2254994</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA['Kuch Yaadain Kuch Batain' and 'Roshan Sitaray' will be available online to entertain and educate the audience]]>
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				<![CDATA[Lahore Arts Council has successfully organised regular online activities for the promotion and development of arts, music, painting and other fine arts. And the next goal of the organisation is to re-launch the monthly literary and cultural sessions of &quot;Kuch Yaadain Kuch Batain&quot; and &quot;Roshan Sitaray&quot; online to entertain and educate the audience, stated a press release.

In this regard, an important meeting was held to discuss the re-launch the of those programs &nbsp; Chairperson chaired the meeting, Board of Governors, Lahore Arts Council Moneeza Hashmi along with Executive Director LAC Saman Rai at Alhamra Art Centre, the Mall.&nbsp;

On occasion, Chairperson, BoG, Lahore Arts Council Moneeza Hashmi said that &quot;from the very beginning, the purpose of these programs has been to pay homage to the legend and to educate our young generation. The session tells the audience the personal and professional experiences of their lives and to work in various fields which will help the youth to determine their future&quot;. She further said that the other reason to re-launch these series is that, &nbsp;due to this Covid-19, &nbsp;not only the physical health but also the mental health of the people has been severely affected, which is a wakeup call for all of us. &nbsp;That is why we are resuming these sessions online to improve the mental state of the people because we all know that a healthy mind is the guarantor of a healthy body and life, she added.

Expressing her views, Executive Director Lahore Arts Council, Saman Rai said that people of all ages and different walks of life were taking an extraordinary interest in both programs, which was our true success. But, &nbsp;those successful sessions had to be stopped due to Covid-19. Now considering the situation, we are going to release them online so that people can have a safe, good and positive entertainment while sitting in their homes. &quot;Like other sectors around the world, the field of literature and culture has also been severely affected, and Lahore Arts Council is playing its role for the survival and promotion of art and culture with its constant struggle, she added.&nbsp;

Director of Arts and&nbsp;Culture Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi and Assistant Director Admin Syed Khuram Naveeeel also present at the meeting.

The Lahore Arts Council is a state-of-the-art literary and cultural institution that has not allowed the obstacles created by COVID -19 to hinder the promotion of Art and Culture.

Moreover, the relationship between the people and Alhamra is incredibly strong even today. Currently, the only difference is that the style of Alhamra has changed for the safety and betterment of the people&#39;s health amid this pandemic.

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			<title>Harry Potter fan sites step back from Rowling over transgender views</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2253150/harry-potter-fan-sites-step-back-from-rowling-over-transgender-views</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2253150/harry-potter-fan-sites-step-back-from-rowling-over-transgender-views#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 20 13:52:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Film]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA['The Leaky Cauldron' and 'Mugglenet' sites have more than one mn Facebook followers]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Two of the biggest Harry Potter fan sites on Thursday distanced themselves from author J.K. Rowling because of her beliefs on transgender issues, calling them at odds with the message of empowerment in her best-selling books.

Websites The Leaky Cauldron and Mugglenet said they would no longer provide links to the British author&rsquo;s personal website, use photos of her, or write about achievements that do not relate to the Wizarding World she created.

The joint statement by the fan sites said Rowling&rsquo;s views on &ldquo;marginalized people (are) out of step with the message of acceptance and empowerment we find in her books and celebrated by the Harry Potter community.&rdquo;

It follows a lengthy personal essay by Rowling last month in which she detailed her research and beliefs on transgender issues, including examples of where she thought demands by transgender activists were dangerous to women. The essay was widely criticized by LGBTQ advocacy groups as divisive and transphobic.






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Rowling&rsquo;s seven Harry Potter&nbsp;novels about a boy wizard have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide and were turned into eight blockbuster movies. She followed up with a spin-off movie franchise Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.

The fan sites, which together have more than one million Facebook followers, said they found it difficult to speak out against Rowling because they had admired her work for so long, but said &ldquo;it would be wrong not to use our platforms to counteract the harm she has caused.&quot; &rdquo;While we don&rsquo;t condone the mistreatment JKR (Rowling) has received for airing her opinions about transgender people, we must reject her beliefs,&rdquo; the statement added.

Rowling&rsquo;s representatives declined to comment on Friday&rsquo;s statement.

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			<title>Pakistani-American superhero Kamala Khan to feature in latest game</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252952/pakistani-american-super-hero-kamala-khan-to-feature-in-latest-game</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252952/pakistani-american-super-hero-kamala-khan-to-feature-in-latest-game#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 20 09:42:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Film]]></category><category><![CDATA[Games]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252952</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kamala Khan features as Ms Marvel in the blockbuster Marvel comics]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Marvel&rsquo;s first Muslim superhero, Kamala Khan, is all set to be a part of their blockbuster gaming roster alongside seasoned heroes like Iron Man, Hulk and Captain America.

As a Pakistani-American teenager, Khan &ndash; aka Ms Marvel &ndash; boasts shape-shifting powers, and was announced&nbsp;as one of the latest characters by the game&#39;s publisher Square Enix. And not just that: she will also be central to the plot, reported&nbsp;BBC.

The move has gathered praise from fans and industry insiders alike, with many taking to social media to express their excitement at the representation in gaming that comes with it.&nbsp;BBC&nbsp;quoted a long time Muslim fan of franchise as saying, &ldquo;I first heard of Ms Marvel from the comics a few years ago. I immediately thought it was so cool when I read her background was like mine, being Pakistani, Muslim and a girl. When I saw the announcement she is going to be in the game and one of the main characters, I just thought I&#39;ve literally been waiting for something like this my whole life.&rdquo;






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The character of Kamala Khan is the brainchild of Marvel editor and director Sana Amanat, who is a Muslim-American herself. Khan was co-created by Amanat in 2014. Her inspiration stemmed from a desire to create a character that young girls of similar background could identify with.

&ldquo;I think it&#39;s absolutely insane that Kamala Khan is in one of the biggest Marvel games that we&#39;ve done. The fact that she&#39;s the entry point character in this game makes so much sense. People from all backgrounds can relate to her,&rdquo; Amanat said during the game&rsquo;s promotion.

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			<title>New ‘GoT’ novel to arrive in 2021?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251588/new-got-novel-arrive-2021</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251588/new-got-novel-arrive-2021#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 16:48:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[TV]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251588</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[George RR Martin is apparently writing away in isolation]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[George RR Martin, notorious for the slow pace of his output since his book Game of Thrones became a worldwide sensation and an HBO series, is apparently stepping up his writing pace.

Martin said on his blog that he is writing the next installment, The Winds of Winter, at “a steady pace.” But, he conceded, “I still have a long way to go.”

Nonetheless, the 71-year-old said he hoped to finish sometime before a 2021 convention. The pandemic has helped him focus. Martin had been consulting on the HBO plans for sequels to Game of Thrones and enjoying his new found celebrity.

The led to accusations from some fans that the final books in the series would never be finished. His last published work was A Dance with Dragons, which came out in 2011. Some fans, too, were hoping that Martin might craft a more satisfying ending to the saga than the HBO series, which left some underwhelmed at its abrupt resolutions.

“Yes, I am in an actual cabin in the mountains,’ Martin joked on his blog, adding he didn’t have a fever. “If nothing else, the enforced isolation has helped me write. I am spending long hours every day on The Winds of Winter and making steady progress,” he wrote.

The author claimed he has finished three chapters within the last two weeks. Martin also said he hoped to introduce the new work at a New Zealand fan convention in 2021, “When I hope that both Covid-19 and The Winds of Winter will be done.”
Underline the word “hope.”

He did, however, warn that, “But no, this does not mean that the book will be finished tomorrow or published next week. It’s going to be a huge book and I still have a long way to go.”

Martin seemed to offer an apology on his deliberate writing pace. “Way, way back in 1999, when I was deep in the writing of A Storm of Swords, I was averaging about 150 pages of manuscript a month,” he said. “I fear I shall never recapture that pace again. Looking back, I am not sure how I did it then. A fever, indeed.”

Stoking expectations, Martin said he has been covering new material on some familar characters, including “Cersei, Asha, Tyrion, Ser Barristan and Areo Hotah.”

He still has some distractions planned though. He will host the Hugo Awards, an annual celebration of science fiction and fantasy writing. He has been recording some Zoom bits for that show, “a wise precaution, since I am hopeless with Zoom and Skype and like things. But that is a lot less time-consuming and distracting than flying to the other end of the world.”

Martin closed with a call-back to one of the most famous Game of Thrones characters. “Now, you will have to excuse me. Arya is calling. I think she means to kill someone.”

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Nine Pakistani illustrators upping the Insta game</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2247920/nine-pakistani-illustrators-upping-insta-game</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2247920/nine-pakistani-illustrators-upping-insta-game#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 20 10:49:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Rida Lodhi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2247920</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Here are nine contemporary Pakistani illustrators you should know and follow about right now.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Let's be real. Pakistan, in terms of arts and culture, is broadening on a snail's pace. In an industry where even mainstream artists aren't getting their due credit, it isn't much of a surprise that visual artists or illustrators wouldn't get the recognition they deserve. However, it's about time, these Pakistani illustrators get their bit of fame.

With illustrations bearing the mark of the artist, there is a certain authenticity attached to a hand-drawn work of art. Illustrations have the power to charm, amuse, and evoke a feeling of nostalgia in the viewer. In a world where everything is digital, its little wonder we’re seeing a big return to the illustration in art. Here are nine contemporary Pakistani illustrators you should know and follow about right now.

1. Umair Najeeb Khan (@umairnajeebkhan)


The 26-year-old Islamabad based freelance illustrator, comic book artist and an aspiring story-teller rose to fame after his version of Pakistani superheroes went viral.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CADiRe3nwpu/

"I illustrate for children’s books, do publicity designs for films, design characters, and am in the process of publishing a children’s book of my own," he told The Express Tribune.

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

There’s so many artists that inspire me, Jorge Jimenez, Stephen Bryne, Sara Alfageeh are just a few.

- Let’s talk about issues illustrators and visual artists face in the industry. How far back are we in terms of establishing a proper platform for visual artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_h8at_nbKS/

I think one huge problem is not having a proper channel for online payments like PayPal. So many international artists have their patrons and crowdsource their passion projects. Not having something as basic as PayPal limits us in a lot of ways.

- Your biggest milestone

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4SHgPlA50T/

My biggest work for me would be Paak Legion. Mostly because I have given it my everything and it's my child, so it's definitely over all the other work I have done.

Abeer Kasri (@Aktoonify)

Abeer is a self-taught digital artist. "My expertise is mainly in Character Design and children book’s illustrations," she shared.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGJOUmpO1R/

"I am currently working as an illustrator/designer at The Citizens Archive of Pakistan. Besides that, I do projects which mainly include storybooks for children, posters, comic books and I run my own thing of making customised toons as AKtoonify."

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5fGoQdh7rv/

My inspiration to learn drawing or to get in the field was from Disney and that too when I was three-years-old, I am a huge Disney fan. I have grown up watching all the animated movies and cartoons and reading comic books. I have been drawing for as long as I can remember.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt9dsawnuOp/

The artists who inspire me the most are Aaron Blaise and Chris Sanders’ work, Babs Tarr is one of my favourite comic artist and Patrick Brown and from our Pakistani industry, I love all the artists, they all inspire me one way or another and are always willing to help others learn - to name a few I like Anas Riasat, Saad Irfan, Zabad Anwer, Syed Jeem, Naiha Raza, Mushk Rizvi, Ameer Ali, Mufaddal Iqbal, Umair Najeeb Khan, Bilal Bhatti, Haris Mansoor, Saib, Javeria Khoso, Hamza Bajwa, Maha, the list is still so long.

- Let’s talk about issues illustrators and visual artists face in the industry. How far back are we in terms of establishing a proper platform for visual artists.


https://www.instagram.com/p/BhhSQ1UlfGr/

What hurts me the most as an illustrator from Pakistan, is that we haven't put much of Pakistan centric artwork out there for the world to see. We don't have illustrations that define and describe people and life of Pakistan in general. Our folk tales, our stories, our languages and our culture, it is all very rich. There is so much to explore and that needs to work on. I hope I'll be able to contribute by making illustrations that are more Pakistan centric, that define our culture and our lives. I’d love to work on children’s books someday.

- Your biggest milestone

Sharing her visions, Abeer went on to add, "The goal is to represent Pakistan globally, to let everyone see the life here, how simple life is and how people are, our culture, tradition, heritage, and history."

Samad Rizvi aka samadrizvi.art


https://www.instagram.com/p/CAc3wE9nJT8/

Samad Rizvi is a Karachi-based concept artist and illustrator who has worked mostly been recognised for his storyboards and works for films and games.

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

I get inspired by the work people are doing globally! From the brilliant artists that we have here in Pakistan to international artists. I got the chance to learn from Wasiq Haris and then In my early career, I worked with the amazing Babrus Khan which really helped me to learn the technicalities of the work we do.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CADkrE-nfzB/

A lot of my inspiration comes from the people whom I learned the most from at schoolism.com where I took courses of Sam Nielson, Nathan Fowkes, Stephen Silver etc.

Few more from the long list includes the Great Jack Kirby, Todd McFarlane, Stanlee, Sean Galloway, Coran Kizerella. Other than this I get inspired daily by watching tv shows, Anime, films and games.

- Let’s talk about issues illustrators and visual artists face in the industry. How far back are we in terms of establishing a proper platform for visual artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7LBgIknkrt/

I think we don't really support local artists at all. For a lot of queries, I, myself, would mostly reach out to the international artists because of the support I see with them. We really need to build our community, support each other's work and help grow the industry within Pakistan first. This is a way the artists can then start to address all the other issues faced in the industry as a whole.

- Your biggest milestone

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzgDAdEnGVL/

"My biggest work is the 5-minute short animated film I have been working on since the last few months, I'm really excited about it and haven't posted anything from it yet. It might come out in July, just waiting for the right moment now as it is completed!" The 26-year-old visual artist told The Express Tribune.

Saleha Kamran aka TheCreativePea:

Better known as her social media name, The Creative Pea, Saleha Kamran is a CGI artist based in Islamabad.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAjEPOwnt9v/

"I majored in Printmaking from the National College of Arts, with distinction. I've always been fascinated with innovative storytelling, through comics and animation," she said.

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B49XM_KAKie/

I love 2D animation, drawing cats, and studying light in art forms. Artists like James Gurney, Ann Maulina, Jeremy Adams, Fernando Peque, Mike McCain and Sylvain Sarrailh are my inspirations and I have learned a lot from their painting techniques. KPop is another great muse!

- Let’s talk about issues illustrators and visual artists face in the industry. How far back are we in terms of establishing a proper platform for visual artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYeEsGpS_B/

As an illustrator or any artist existing in Pakistan is hard. It's how you make yourself up to be, and how much you can learn on your own. Sure, you will meet a lot of great mentors (Saif Toon, Junaid Badar, Harris Ejaz in my case to name a few) but in the end, it heavily relies on your own self-growth, creativity and persistence. The jobs will not pay you well, you will constantly be exploited, misused, overworked and blackmailed as an artist.

You will also face a taboo of religious parties. The key is to continue doing what you love and remember why you started drawing in the first place. You will also need to know what the red flags are, and how to tackle different situations according to your own self-worth.

- Your biggest milestone

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvRrCUh6p4/

"Sharing her most famous work among working as Concept and Texture Artist in Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor," Saleha added, "I also had the opportunity to work on some of the concepts for live performance for the GEA Event (The opening ceremony of League of Legends championship (Saudi) 2020 being done via Projection-Mapping. I worked on Yasuo 's Sword dance performance, who is one of the most played characters in the MENA region."

https://www.instagram.com/p/Boy-dwRh4nL/

She added, "The aim was to create a sword dance experience that could be Samurai. Yasuo puts up a show of his key skills that are unique to him; like Windwall, Last Breath and Steel Tempest as he vanquishes an enemy made out of Sakura."

Maha Abdul Alaam (@poichanchan)

Maha Abdul Alaam is a self-taught concept artist currently working on some games and animation projects!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAIdosHHapo/

"I've worked on a wide range of projects, including movies such as 3 Bahadur, Netflix's Sitara, and issues of popular comic books! I love visual storytelling and the raw power of the medium to touch hearts and stimulate minds," The 26-year-old told The Express Tribune.

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8olf0anb5E/

I've always been inspired by Japanese comics (Manga) before I even understood what I was looking at, and there are a lot of artists with the style that inspires me. Some of them being Demizu Posuka, Shigeru Soejima, and rei_17.

I'm also super inspired by the energetic newcomers in our local space! It's exciting to watch them make their first appearance online and then as if on rocket fuel, start improving like crazy!

- Let’s talk about issues illustrators and visual artists face in the industry. How far back are we in terms of establishing a proper platform for visual artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxa-snsHTcK/

We face a lot of issues in the local industry. There is exploitation with clients not wanting to pay artists any more than the absolute bare minimum in an attempt to get us to put in an obscene amount of work to get a fair income.

There is plenty of awesome client and companies in need of talent of course, but we must build more in the way of protection for beginners against being exploited.

- Your biggest milestone

"My biggest project has to be leading Environment Design on Netflix's Sitara! It's Pakistan's first Netflix Original and the subject matter of the films is raw and powerful," she revealed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9hWbn0novp/

"I've been to events internationally and made some cool friends (the director of Spiderman into the Spiderverse, Peter Ramsey as an example!), been on live TV features, been shared on huge accounts like for the video game Giant Konami."

Aamina Hashmi (@poday_wali)


https://www.instagram.com/p/CARxEwFAOtM/

Aamina Hashmi is a freelance artist, designer, illustrator, and a plant enthusiast. The 26-year-old Rawalpindi-based-artist shared that her artwork is usually inspired by social stigmas and issues. "I like to explore prevailing mental issues with a touch of subtlety that they deserve. There is no limit to what I draw, or express my opinion on, and I don’t hesitate when it comes to difficult discussion," Aamina revealed.

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAk5y6dHatr/

My work is inspired by nature and general social problems. I like to combine my ideas with a touch of pop culture influence. My artwork also pays homage to the brilliant Islamic artists and scholars that influenced art movements with their geometric, precise, and detailed compositions.

There are many artists I’m inspired from, both from the last century and modern ones like Death Burger, Scott M Fischer and I love the pen and ink work of Japanese horror manga artist, Junji Ito.

- Let’s talk about issues illustrators and visual artists face in the industry. How far back are we in terms of establishing a proper platform for visual artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_cscu9H6Ry/

I think a lot of artists in Pakistan are struggling with the fact that they don’t have enough opportunities offered locally to justify high degree costs. Most successful artists we meet are doing their own freelance work. I would honestly like this to improve over time, and not just the scope, but the accessibility of it as well.

- Your biggest milestone

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9d8x2GnROH/

Talking about her biggest work, the illustrator shared, "My biggest work would probably be a solidarity sketch I drew during for the very heartbreaking 2016 Istanbul Bombings. It was shared worldwide on international outlets like BBC, HuffPost, Buzzfeed.  I consider this my biggest achievement because I was able to stand against oppression and violence in a greater way than I could manage on my small page."

Hazem Asif (@worldofhazem)

Asif is an interdisciplinary research-based graphic designer and digital illustrator based in Lahore.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBk-UwuJbTk/

"My work focuses on speculative design, world-building, and a design fiction that acts as a medium to stimulate positive social and cultural discussions while aiming to raise awareness, provoke action, expose assumptions, and question the unknown," the 27-year-old said.

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9GmvStHklJ/

As a designer with a passion for storytelling, I draw my inspirations mostly from my personal experiences of living in Lahore, a South Asian metropolis with a rich history that is constantly evolving and transitioning. Most of my works have been inspired by the culture, multi-layered and social dynamics of life in Pakistan.

Recently, my work has been focused on visually speculating the future of Pakistan - the new Pakistan embracing technology, diversity, peace and working towards better human rights.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6H8gNFnfUW/

Besides this, the works of science fiction and fantasy writers such as Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, JRR Tolkien have heavily influenced my work. Additionally, the works of notable designers such as Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby, Ian Mcque, Alex McDowell, and Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of Samurai Jack, Dexter's Laboratory featured on Cartoon Network) have been a coherent part of my research and inspiration throughout my artistic and design career.

- Let’s talk about issues illustrators and visual artists face in the industry. How far back are we in terms of establishing a proper platform for visual artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2pIs3GnBlD/

Compared with the international industry, Pakistan has a lot to catch up with and has a nascent design industry. There are no specific industry platforms that promote, educate and provide opportunities to visual artists/illustrators. The work of artists/illustrators is most often underestimated and undervalued in comparison with other professions that 'perceived' to be more economically viable.

The jobs in the creative industry are not sustainable and are rife with issues such as exploitation of the artists' work along with plagiarism are recurring setbacks. There are no concrete policies in place regarding plagiarism or the protection of intellectual property rights of artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0F7wUIhNp8/
Visual artists and illustrators, in turn, have found a common ground of promoting and working online through platforms such as Fiver, Instagram, Facebook etc. There is a healthy growing community of visual artists on Instagram that has been very vocal and supportive in promoting the works of upcoming and professional artists. This is turning out to be an organic ecosystem in and of itself without the support of any external, institutional or governmental entities.

- Your biggest milestone

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByI68cwB2LC/

Hazem's most famous work is quite different from the rest. "My most successful artwork can be categorised in the genre of cyberpunk. It is a travel poster titled, CyberLahore. CyberLahore has been well-received widely in Pakistan," he said. "I have sold art prints in Lahore and Islamabad. Internationally, the artwork has been exhibited in the Middle East, Maison de Objets exhibition in Paris, France, the largest design fair in Europe and also at Case Western University, Cleveland, United States."

Maheen S Zahid aka Pyrosh.art

The 26-year-old Maheen is a Lahore-based artist. "I have been trained as a Fashion Designer from PIFD, and currently work as a Game Designer at Frag Games as well as freelance as an Illustrator," she told us.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5P8d8Tn7ZP/

"I'm mostly self-taught and learned by drawing anime characters and following YouTube tutorials for colour theory. I absolutely love making badass women as well as smol, kawaii characters and also make stationery/merch and have tabled at multiple comic cons."

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Btvs7_CHvvr/

My inspirations include anime (especially the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai); Japanese culture and the cyberpunk aesthetic; nature and sunlight; the Fantasy genre; and the work of contemporary artists like Audra Auclair, Wang Ling, Laura Brouwers, Gabriel Picolo, Hamza Bajwa, and Aliya Chen.

- Let’s talk about issues illustrators and visual artists face in the industry. How far back are we in terms of establishing a proper platform for visual artists.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bow3cSTlM26/

The biggest issue for local artists/illustrators is people assuming we should work for free. These are our jobs; it's taken us years of practice and work to get to where we are, and it takes hours, days, and weeks to complete projects. Please don't act like you're entitled to free art just because you know someone. Please also research and know the value of art before approaching someone to commission them. Please also DON'T steal/copy/trace our work and post it as your own for a few likes. You can always come to us for guidance on how to improve your skills and develop your own art style instead.

- Your biggest milestone?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CADfz3RHPis/

While I've worked with companies and clients that I'm proud of having on my portfolio, my favourite piece from recent times was my collaboration with a bunch of incredible Pakistani artists, not just because of the revolution we started with our #dontrushchallenge but also because I was introduced to a group of amazing human beings, and because of all the opportunities it brought my way.

Haris Mansoor (@haris.mnsr919)

Haris Mansoor is a 25-years-old illustrator based in Lahore. "I graduated from NCA Rawalpindi campus in December 2018 in visual communication design," he said.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtL1svwnxe-/

"Illustrations (especially character design) has always been my thing. One year ago I came here in Lahore for my job at PuffBall animation studios as an animator, traditional hand-drawn animations have always got my attention."

- Tell us about your inspirations. Who inspires you and what do you like about their work?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXLcF3wFP6X/

I take inspiration from many artists that I follow on Instagram and are also working in the industry for a long time like Alaine Baybayan, Alexandre Sauchenko, Samuel smith, Aaron Blaise, Oolof Storms, Max Grecke,  Amir Mirzaei, Malcolm Wope, Denis Sarazhin. Most of them are young animators and illustrators and its truly inspiring to see someone that is almost the same age as yours doing wonders.

- Your biggest milestone?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVKvLKvl9_J/

Since I graduated just a year ago so the only first and big thing I did was a part of my job that is Shehr e Tabassum, it was a hand-drawn short film released in February 2020. I was one of the animators in the film, other than that I work as a freelance illustrator too.

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			<title>Literature world mourns loss of several writers in June</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2247812/literature-world-mourns-loss-several-writers-june</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2247812/literature-world-mourns-loss-several-writers-june#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 20 09:51:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[This peak summer saw the passing of several writers of Urdu, Punjabi, Seraiki, Pashto and Balti languages]]>
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				<![CDATA[The month of June has been a painful one for the literature canvass of Pakistan.

This peak summer saw the passing of several writers of Urdu, Punjabi, Seraiki, Pashto and Balti languages, according to Dr Yousuf Khushk, Chairman, Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL).

Those who left this mortal world this month include Manzar Ayubi, Sarwar Javed, Mazhar Mahmood Sherani, Mohammad Khalid, Tariq Aziz, Najeeb Parwana, Jamil Arshad, Rabb Nawaz Miskin, Wazir Hussain Rahi, Nobahar Shah Khattak and Qadir Khan Sartaj.

“This month has been very painful for the world of literature. Many important writers have left this month,” Dr Khushk said in a condolences message. “Their demise is a great loss to Pakistani literature,” he added.

Teacher, poet, writer and critic Manzar Ayubi was one of the prominent poets of this time. He achieved a special place by writing short poems. His ghazals also have a special distinction.

Urdu poet, critic Sarwar Javed has prominent colours of the era is in the poetry. Progressive poetry is an important part of it. The canvas of his poems is also very wide.

A researcher, sketcher, biographer and Professor, Dr Mazhar Mahmood Sherwani played an important role in literature and did valuable research and wrote excellent sketches.

Muhammad Khalid was also an important poet of the ghazal. He greatly influenced his contemporaries as well as young generations.

Anchor, actor, politician and intellectual Tariq Aziz, was also a poet of Urdu and Punjabi and a knowledgeable person. He has been using his pen as a way of impression. His study was very extensive.

Poet Najib Parwana had a prominent place in Pashto literature. His ghazal is valuable in Pashto literature. Jameel Arshad was a poet as well as an excellent calligrapher. He did significant work in both areas.

Saraiki and Punjabi poet Rabb Nawaz Miskin was one of the important writers of his times. He served literature quietly in Jauharabad all his life.

Wazir Hussain Rahi from Skardu had written humorous poetry in Balti language against social weaknesses and injustices. He was a powerful voice in the Balti language.

The writer and secretary of the Khattak Literary and Cultural Jirga, Nobahar Shah Khattak was an important name in the Pashto literature. He did a lot of service to the literature through poetry as well as literary programmes.

Qadir Khan Sartaj was living in the UK and was serving Urdu and Pashto Literature. He was known as an Urdu and Pashto poet.
Dr Khushk said that with the passing of these writers, Pakistani literature lost important writers. Expressing deep sorrow over the demise of the deceased, the PAL Chairman prayed for forgiveness of the departed.

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			<title>Priyanka to Jemima: Celebs congratulate Malala on Oxford degree</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2245919/priyanka-jemima-celebs-congratulate-malala-oxford-degree</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2245919/priyanka-jemima-celebs-congratulate-malala-oxford-degree#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 20 13:59:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
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				<![CDATA[The youngest Nobel Prize laureate recently complete her degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics]]>
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				<![CDATA[Malala Yousafzai recently graduated from Oxford with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Malala took to Twitter to share her excitement at this big milestone of hers, posting a happy picture with her family, cutting a cake.

https://twitter.com/Malala/status/1273775945917378562

“Hard to express my joy and gratitude right now as I completed my Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree at Oxford,” she wrote.

Soon after she shared the news on social media, many celebs and famous personalities congratulated her on achieving the milestone.

From the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Juggun Kazim, Mindy Kaling, Samina Peerzada, Kamila Shamsie, Elif Shafak and many others, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate was wished the best for the future.

Here's what they had to say:



https://twitter.com/SaminaSays/status/1273821913232654336

https://twitter.com/JuggunKazim/status/1273863687682560000

https://twitter.com/kamilashamsie/status/1273778823201464323

https://twitter.com/Elif_Safak/status/1273879228480716801

https://twitter.com/Jemima_Khan/status/1273892074786557953

Here’s wishing Malala all the best of luck on her journey post this. Happy Graduation!

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			<title>Elusive and controversial: Banksy's new paintings honour Black Lives Matter</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2244690/elusive-controversial-banksys-new-paintings-honour-black-lives-matter</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2244690/elusive-controversial-banksys-new-paintings-honour-black-lives-matter#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 20 18:33:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[DW]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[From BLM to climate crisis, UK's controversial artist continues to amaze with political artwork]]>
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				<![CDATA[Throughout history, art and politics have continuously been intertwined due to the former's role in forming the society’s cultural identity.

Acclaimed Graffiti artist and political activist, Banksy, is known for combining his dark political humor with unique and extraordinary stenciling technique to create powerful artworks that respond to contemporary societal and political issues, according to Guyhepner.

Banksy is also among the most controversial street artists on the modern global stage, with his most famous pieces being Stop and Search (2007), Girl with Balloon and 'Bomb Hugger'.

Here are some of his most recent works of art as compiled by DW that appeared during the climate change protests and Black lives matter movement:

A statement on systemic racism



A vigil candle sets fire to the US flag: Banksy has revealed on Instagram a new painting commenting on George Floyd's killing and honoring the Black Lives Matter movement. "People of color are being failed by the system. The white system," the artist wrote. "This is a white problem. And if white people don't fix it, someone will have to come upstairs and kick the door in," he added.

The superheroes of the coronavirus pandemic



Spiderman and Batman are the yesterday's superheroes: this little boy prefers to play with a nurse wearing a face mask and a cape. With this picture revealed at the beginning of May 2020, Banksy paid tribute to the outstanding contribution of doctors, nurses and hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ready for takeoff?



In December 2019, Banksy posted a video showing his mural of reindeer taking off -but instead of Santa's sleigh in tow, it's a man lying on a bench, aimed to draw attention to the plight of the homeless. "God bless Birmingham," the artist wrote. "In the 20 minutes we filmed Ryan on this bench passers-by gave him a hotdrink, two chocolate bars and a lighter - without him ever asking for anything."drink, two chocolate bars and a lighter - without him ever asking for anything."

'Devolved Parliament' — Made in Britain



Famous, but elusive street artist Banksy created in 2009 "Devolved Parliament," featuring chimps instead of politicians in the British Parliament. Amid the chaos caused by Brexit, the work embodies the country's political atmosphere. The 2.8 x 4.5-meter (around 9 x 15-foot) painting was auctioned off in London in October 2019 for 9.8 million pounds (around €11 million).

And it's half gone...



Another auction at Sotheby's in London also caused a huge stir. Just after Banksy's painting "Girl with Balloon" was sold for 1 million pounds (then 1.2 million euros) in 2018, it began to self-destruct as a shredder was hidden in the lower part of the frame, but it did not complete the process. It morphed into "Love is in the Bin." The motif first appeared in 2002 as a mural in London.

On show rather than at auction



The millions of pounds that "Devolved Parliament" reaped in October also sparked criticism, with no information about the buyer provided. Likewise in October, Banksy installed artwork in a closed shop in London as a commentary, saying that artworks at auction had become the property of the rich rather being the common property of people at large.

The World of Banksy



Banksy is one of the most famous street artists in the world, yet his true identity remains under wraps. Paintings or drawings on paper are rare creations of his. Instead, the British artist sprays most of his works anonymously on buildings, walls, and demolition ruins. Such street art is not for sale.

Steve Jobs



A recurring theme in his works is the predatory nature of global capitalism. Banksy sprayed this mural in the entrance area of the refugee camp in Calais, southern England. Depicted is the late Apple founder Steve Jobs, carrying his legendary first Mac computer. The father of the Apple director hailed from Syria.

A statement about Brexit



Banksy addressed the Brexit debate in the UK with this work back in 2017. Overnight, this picture appeared on the wall of a house not far from the ferry port in Dover ferry port: It shows a man standing on a ladder trying to remove one of the EU stars with a hammer and chisel. The image has meanwhile disappeared from the wall, with someone having whitewashed it.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict



The British street artist has also addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2017, Banksy opened The Walled Off Hotel, an actual hotel featuring his artworks, in Bethlehem right next to the controversial Israeli West Bank barrier. The artist has also left quite a few of his artworks throughout this historic town since 2005, drawing many tourists on a "Banksy Tour."

War is not a child's game



One known fact about Banksy's identity is that the world-famous artist comes from Bristol in southern England. He moved on to London at the end of the 1990s and began to spray his pictorial messages onto the walls of selected locations. Here, he was back in Bristol in 2016, leaving behind a mural at a English primary school in Whitchurch.

Global climate crisis



As an artist, Banksy has always been a visionary. In his wall works, he has often addressed the political problems of the future, such as global warming, as shown here. He created this sprayed message in London in 2009 — long before US President Trump announced this sentence in all seriousness.

Criticism of the media



Banksy has also denounced the brutalization of the media, which jumps onto the bandwagon of sensationalism with regard to war and terrorist attack victims. This is depicted in this work entitled "Media at war," which, like some of his other works, has not been sprayed onto a building wall, making it possible to exhibit it in a gallery, such as here in London in 2018.

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			<title>Munir Ahmad Badini wins top literary award</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2243528/munir-ahmad-badini-wins-top-literary-award</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2243528/munir-ahmad-badini-wins-top-literary-award#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 20 09:28:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Hasan Manzar awarded for Urdu, Fatima Bhutto for English prose]]>
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				<![CDATA[Novelist and writer Munir Ahmad Badini from Balochistan have been nominated for the Kamal-e-Fun Award 2018 of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, among the highest literary awards of the country.

The award was announced by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Chairman Dr Yousuf Khushk during a news conference on Monday following an online meeting of the academy’s awards committee.

Dr Khushk said that a panel of judges comprising renowned writers and scholars including Masood Ashar, Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Noorul Huda Shah, Prof Dr Rauf Parekh, Qazi Javed, Dr Nasrullah Nasir, Ayub Baloch, Noor Muhammad Hasni, Dr Salma Shaheen, Nasir Ali Syed, Hasan Hasrat and Haris Khalique had decided to award Badini with the Rs1m Kamal-e-Fun Award for 2018 in recognition of his lifetime services towards literature in the country.

Dr Khushk added that the national literary award for 2018 was awarded for the best literary books written during the year, either in Urdu or other Pakistani languages.

He added that the panel of judges had awarded the Saadat Hasan Manto Award (Creative Literature) for Urdu prose to Hasan Manzar’s book “Jhijak”. Baba-i-Urdu Molvi Abdul Haq Award (Criticism and Research) was given to Dr Tahseen Firaqui for the book “Nikat”.

Moreover, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal Award for Urdu poetry was given to Zahera Nigahon on “Gul-e- Chandni”, the Syed Waris Shah Award for Punjabi poetry was given to Rai Muhammad Nasir’s book “Hadak”.

The Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Award for Punjabi prose was awarded to Ahmad Khawar’s book ‘Ghunnu’, the Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Award for Sindhi poetry was is given to Wafa Nathan Shahi’s book “Aayo Jhol Bhare”. The Mirza Qaleech Baig Award for Sindhi prose was given to Zaib Sindhion’s book "Äakhri Manhoo”, the Khushhal Khan Khattak Award for Pushto poetry was awarded to Afrasiab Khattak’s book “Nawe Tegh”, for the Muhammad Ajmal Khan Khattak Award for Pushto prose was awarded to Dr Qazi Hanifullah Hanif for the book “Pashto Shairi Ke Sainsi Shaoor-O-Izhar”, the Mast Tawakli Award for Balochi poetry was awarded to Inayatullah Qaumion for the book “Biya Kapoot Vish Na Lagen”.

The Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Award for Balochi prose was awarded to Akbar Barakzaion for the book “Zaban Zanti-u-Balochi Zaban Zanti”.

The Khwaja Ghulam Fareed Award for Seraiki poetry was given to Zaheer Ahmad for the book “Alla”, the Dr Maher Abdul Haq Award for Seraiki prose was given to Hafeez Khan for the book “Adh Adhoore Lok”.

The Patras Bukhari Award for English prose was given to Fatima Bhutto for the book “The Run Aways”. The Daud Kamal Award for English poetry was given to Sara Javed for the book “Meraki”.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Pakistani truck artist honours George Floyd with stunning mural</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2240384/pakistani-truck-artist-honours-george-floyd-stunning-mural</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2240384/pakistani-truck-artist-honours-george-floyd-stunning-mural#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 20 09:42:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Haider Ali's art features the saying, 'Hum kaaley hain tou kia hua, dil waley hain']]>
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				<![CDATA[Haider Ali, a Pakistani truck artist has painted a mural of George Floyd.

The unjust murder of George, an unarmed black man, in Minneapolis in late May ignited fiery protests all over America that have since gone global, with many countries protesting in favour of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Haider decided to show his solidarity with the slain man in traditional Pakistani form, dedicating a whole wall to him in a truck art style mural that features a special saying.



Photo: Sana Fatima

"Hum kaaley hain tou kia hua, dil waley hain (So what if we're dark-skinned? We've got big hearts)," reads the mural. It also features another saying that goes, "Goron ki na kaalon ki, Dunya dil walon ki’ (This world belongs neither to whites or blacks, only for those with big hearts)."

Three other words stand out on Haider's mural. 'Adal, Insaaf, Barabari' that translate to Justice and Equality, respectively.

According to Haider, the starry night background symbolises the importance of the colour black itself. The black of the night enables us to see the star and every artist knows the all-around importance of black in the universe.



Photo: Sana Fatima

Haider's mural is not only a testament to George Floyd's legacy, but also a dedication to all those individuals around the world who are fighting inequality and injustice.

This, for Haider, also include the religious minorities (Muslims) in Indian Occupied Kashmir, Palestine and Myanmar, who are regularly subjected to cruelty on the basis of religion, and are tortured and killed.

Kudos to Haider for taking a stand for such an important cause and backing the movement that is so important all over the world, even if it may not seem that way.

*Pictures were earlier attributed to Twitter by mistake. They have been claimed by Sana Fatima. The error has been regretted. 

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			<title>Daniel Radcliffe apologises  for J.K. Rowling's anti-trans comments</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2239018/daniel-radcliffe-apologises-harry-potter-fans-jk-rowlings-anti-transgender-comments</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2239018/daniel-radcliffe-apologises-harry-potter-fans-jk-rowlings-anti-transgender-comments#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 20 10:09:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Film]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[The actor, however, clarified that there is no animosity between himself and the writer]]>
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				<![CDATA[Harry Potter author JK Rowling was recently called out for recent tweets which many believed were “anti-transgender” in nature reported The Indian Express. People even accused her of being a “transphobe.”

And now, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has also responded to the author’s comments in a long statement on The Trevor Project.

“Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I,” the actor declared.

He further shared that 78% of transgender and non-binary youth have reported that they have been the subject of discrimination due to their gender identity. He noted, “We need to do more to support transgender and non-binary people, not invalidate their identities and cause further harm.”

The British heartthrob also addressed Harry Potter fans and apologised to them if they were hurt by Rowling’s comments. “To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you. I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you.”

He added, “If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything; if they taught you that strength is found in diversity and that dogmatic ideas of pureness lead to the oppression of vulnerable groups; if you believe that a particular character is trans, non-binary or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred. In my opinion, nobody can touch that. It means to you what it means to you and I hope that these comments will not taint that.”

In his statement, Radcliffe clarified that there is no fight between Rowling and himself but he felt “compelled to say something.”

Have something to add? Share in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>J.K. Rowling in hot waters once again after transphobic remarks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2238332/j-k-rowling-hot-waters-transphobic-remarks</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2238332/j-k-rowling-hot-waters-transphobic-remarks#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 20 14:15:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2238332</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The 'Harry Potter' author has become somewhat of a controversy magnet on social media in recent years]]>
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				<![CDATA[Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling sparked outrage online from fans and members of the LGBT+ community again on Sunday after a string of tweets accused of being transphobic at a time when protests over inequality are raging globally.

The tweets came in response to an opinion piece on global development site Devex where Rowling took umbrage with the headline “creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate”.

“‘People who menstruate’. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” Rowling said late Saturday.

https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1269382518362509313

Critics pointed out Rowling’s views equated womanhood with menstruation while many trans men menstruate and many other women do not.

“You can write a whole magical world but can’t fathom that trans men exist? I haven’t had a period since 2017 - has my womanhood been paused until I can summon one?” said British author and relationship advice columnist Beth McColl.

Rowling, 54, said her comments were not intended to offend the trans community and only meant to highlight that “sex is real and has lived consequences”.

“I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans, Rowling wrote on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1269407862234775552

“At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.”

A spokesman for Rowling declined to add further comment.

The British author has come under fire for her views about the LGBT+ community in the past.

Last December she supported a woman who was fired for tweeting that people cannot alter their biological sex. She has also been criticised for adding a gay relationship to her Harry Potter series after the book was published.

In recent years debates between trans activists and feminists have raged over what it is to be a woman.

At the heart of the debate is whether the rights of trans women are compatible with those of other women, particularly in terms of access to single-sex spaces, including women’s refuges.

Cara English of Gendered Intelligence, a UK-based trans rights organisation, said Rowling’s timing in rekindling this debate at such a turbulent time in the fight for equality was “remarkable”.

“As white supremacy and its bedfellows sexism, classism and fascism are being loudly challenged on the streets, it seems remarkable to be reheating tepid, essentialist arguments against trans people,” English told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“Let’s focus our energies not on chastising or even really caring what negativity comes our way as a community, but on making the world a better place for all of our trans siblings, especially our black trans siblings.”

In the wake of the new criticism, some Harry Potter fans also revisited a long-running debate about Rowling’s representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in her books with the character name “Cho Chang” trending.

Cho Chang was the only Chinese character in the book series

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below]]>
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			<title>'Urdu poetry in Pakistan is completely different from that in India'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2238055/urdu-poetry-pakistan-completely-different-india</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2238055/urdu-poetry-pakistan-completely-different-india#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 20 07:44:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2238055</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Writer Amjad Islam Amjad believes that the divide is rooted in pre-partition politics of the Sub Continent]]>
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				<![CDATA[Renowned literary figure Amjad Islam Amjad in a recent live session with Tajdar Zaidi of Qissa Khwaan fame discussed the schism in Urdu poetry following the partition of the Sub-Continent.  According to Amjad the divide has its roots in the time before partition all the way to the point when Muslim culture first entered the region.

“ As we all know that the language Urdu was introduced to the subcontinent through Muslims arriving from foreign lands. When the Muslims came they essentially brought two languages with them.  The medium for religious discourse was Arabic, while from a cultural perspective their language was Farsi with bits of Turkish,” he said.

Amjad highlighted that as these languages intermixed with the local dialects of India, the result was a lingo that for the most part tilted towards the Farsi and Arabic side of the spectrum. “ Till the end you will see that the culture, syntax and the mood in Urdu, the way poetry is approached has a deep connection with Arabic , Farsi and Turkish.” Amjad said.

Despite Indian languages retaining some influence in Urdu such as geet and doha, Amjad noted that even the non- Muslim Urdu poets that had the essence of the language associated with Arabic, Farsi and Turkish in their works due to nature of the language.

He went on to note that as revivalist and nationalist movements in the region grew, language also got embroiled in politics. “When political tensions grew, unfortunately, language was made into an aspect of politics. Urdu was outrightly deemed the language of Muslims solely,” he exclaimed.

Amjad noted that right before partition political forces such as Congress stressed on the rhetoric that Urdu is part of the Pakistani identity and hence something foreign to ‘Indian’ culture. “Although the Hindi script was different , the approach towards poetry was still very much the same as in the Arabic and Farsi influenced Urdu.  Eventually the audience for poetry in India changed while in Pakistan it still had a strong link with Turkish, Farsi and Arabic.,” he said.

“A lot of poets I know in India have told me that the audience there doesn’t understand the intricacies of Urdu. Arabic and Farsi are to an extent alien to them. According to them if they hadn’t changed their style of poetry it wouldn’t have resonated with the audience.  Gradually the mood of Indian poetry evolved into something completely different to suit the audience there. With time differences have grown to the point that we can say that Urdu poetry in Pakistan is completely different from that in India,” he said.

Being the purist that he is, Amjad once again expressed disappointment over language being influenced by politics. “This is not a good thing. For no reason language was made into a political issue that created an undesirable atmosphere,” he said.

Have something to add to the story? Share in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Malala is now an Oxford graduate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2237962/malala-now-oxford-graduate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2237962/malala-now-oxford-graduate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 20 06:31:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2237962</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The youngest Nobel Prize Laureate was also part of the popular lineup in YouTube original, Dear Class of 2020]]>
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				<![CDATA[Congratulations are in order for Malala Yousafzai as she graduates from Oxford University in a virtual graduation ceremony.

The activist was also part of the popular lineup in YouTube original, Dear Class of 2020 - where Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and more stars came together to celebrate the graduates.

YouTube shared a 12-second clip of Malala from the special virtual commencement ceremony.

"Don't be defined by what you lose in this crisis but by how you respond to it," the 22-year-old shared. "You have gained your education, now it's time that you go out and use it for the betterment of the world. Congratulations to the class of 2020."

https://twitter.com/YouTube/status/1269741605940072448

The virtual commencement event brought together inspirational leaders, celebrities and YouTube creators to celebrate graduates, their families and their local communities.

Other than the Obamas and Malala, the event included popular K-Pop band BTS which brought the Dear Class Of 2020 YouTube event to a roaring close with a 12-minute performance of three hit songs.

Other stars in the event included Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Shawn Mendes, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>George Floyd’s murals embellish walls around the world</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2236018/george-floyds-murals-embellish-walls-around-world</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2236018/george-floyds-murals-embellish-walls-around-world#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 20 09:11:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2236018</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Murals are popping in Floyd's honour and as a part of the peaceful demonstrations]]>
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				<![CDATA[George Floyd's death has become a catalyst for a movement to end racism and police brutality, and although the unrest has been shaky, it has helped produce some incredibly powerful works of art.All over the world - starting from Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed in police custody, to other cities like Los Angeles, Manchester, England, Berlin, all the way to Syria and Kenya, murals are popping in his honour and as a part of the peaceful demonstrations.

Many of the amazing displays include the words "I can't breathe," which were Floyd's last words to the officers who were applying force to his neck and back for nearly nine minutes, reported TMZ.

Many served as a reminder of the inhumane way in which he died. Some murals also gave a shout out to the #BlackLivesMatter movement and included names of other black people who died at the hands of the police and never got justice.

Although the four officers involved in Floyd's killing have now been arrested and charged, justice is far from being served.

In the meantime, here are some of the murals we spotted online:

[caption id="attachment_2236083" align="alignnone" width="625"] Floyd's mural in Minneapolis by Xena Goldman, Cadex Herrera, Greta McLain, Niko Alexander, and Pablo Hernandez - PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2236080" align="alignnone" width="625"] Floyd's mural in Los Angeles - PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2236082" align="alignnone" width="625"] Floyd's mural in Manchester - PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2236079" align="alignnone" width="625"] Floyd's mural in Kenya - PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2236078" align="alignnone" width="625"] Floyd's mural in Houston - PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2236077" align="alignnone" width="625"] Floyd's mural in France - PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2236076" align="alignnone" width="625"] Floyd's mural in Dublin - PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAxVd7TCZj6/

https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1267484061741789187

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA2zuqmD_tu/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA6mp1Dn5d-/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA2SkMFCrDN/?utm_source=ig_embed

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Meera is penning an autobiography</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2235150/meera-penning-autobiography</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2235150/meera-penning-autobiography#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 20 06:59:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2235150</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The 'Baaji' star shared how the idea came about in 2003 while she was in India]]>
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				<![CDATA[Veteran actor Meera has announced that she has been working on her autobiography, Express News reported.

The actor took to Instagram and shared how she came about the idea of penning a book on her life. The Baaji star shared a picture with popular Indian actors from 2003 and revealed that is when she started writing her book.

Meera wrote as a caption, "Legends in one frame, India 2003. Took this picture when I was in Bombay. (That's when) I started writing chapter 1 to chapter 3 (of) my life story. I’m enjoying writing, I’m enjoying it so much. Coming soon, my book my life, who I am and why I am."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA04MfNjrHw/

The picture included Shatrughan Sinha, Dilip Kumar, Meera and Pankaj Udhas.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Netflix acquires Hollywood's historic Egyptian Theatre</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2232289/netflix-acquires-hollywoods-historic-egyptian-theatre</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2232289/netflix-acquires-hollywoods-historic-egyptian-theatre#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 20 05:49:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Film]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2232289</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Egyptian Theatre, built in 1922, claims to have hosted Hollywood's first ever film premiere for 'Robin Hood']]>
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				<![CDATA[Netflix completed its purchase of Hollywood's historic Egyptian Theatre on Friday, helping to confirm the streaming giant's newfound central position in the film industry, confirmed AFP. 

The Los Angeles theatre built in 1922 claims to have hosted Hollywood's first ever film premiere -- Robin Hood -- and will be used by Netflix for film premieres as well as screenings and special events.

"The Egyptian Theatre is an incredible part of Hollywood history and has been treasured by the Los Angeles film community for nearly a century," said Netflix film head Scott Stuber in a statement confirming the deal.

Netflix, which did not reveal the size of its investment, will run the venue jointly with the nonprofit American Cinematheque, which bought the dilapidated theatre from city officials in 1996 and renovated it two years later.

The Egyptian Theatre's landmark 1922 premiere of Robin Hood saw Charlie Chaplin and movie mogul Cecil B. DeMille join the film's star Douglas Fairbanks and his wife Mary Pickford at the venue on Hollywood Boulevard.

It would later host premieres of other key silent films from Hollywood's famed Golden Age, such as The Gold Rush and The Ten Commandments.

Netflix has spent billions in recent years to lure the industry's top film making talent, upstaging traditional Tinseltown studios with prestigious titles including Roma and The Irishman.

Last year the streaming giant announced it would use New York's historic Paris theatre, which had been shuttered months earlier, for special events and screenings.

The investments have been widely seen as a shot across the bows in Netflix's battle with major film theatre chains and older Hollywood studios.

Traditionally the waiting period before movies appear online agreed upon by studios and major theatre chains is 90 days, but Netflix and other streaming giants have been running their films in select theatres for briefer windows.

The Oscars and other major award shows require films in contention run in designated theatres for a certain period of time, although many have temporarily relaxed their rules this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hollywood trade IndieWire reported this week that Netflix will skip traditional major film festivals this year such as Venice, Toronto and New York -- should they take place -- preferring to premiere its titles at independent venues.

"Love for film is inseparable from L.A.'s history and identity," said Mayor Eric Garcetti.

"We are working toward the day when audiences can return to theatres -- and this extraordinary partnership will preserve an important piece of our cultural heritage that can be shared for years to come."

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below]]>
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			<title>Grimes is selling a piece of her soul as art in online exhibition</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2231009/grimes-selling-piece-soul-art-online-exhibition</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2231009/grimes-selling-piece-soul-art-online-exhibition#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 20 10:05:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2231009</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The musician and mother to X Æ A-12 is literally selling 'a piece' of her soul originally priced at $10 million]]>
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				<![CDATA[Musician and wife to Elon Musk Claire Boucher (alias Grimes) is set to debut her first fine art show in online exhibitions on Gallery Platform Los Angeles from May 28 through June 3 and Maccarone Los Angeles from May 28 through Aug. 31.

The singer is selling drawings, prints, photographs, and conceptual pieces she’s made over the last decade in a show titled Selling Out, reported the Bloomberg.

“I made art 10, 12 years before I ever touched a keyboard,” she told the outlet on a Zoom video call, wearing a Rodarte sweatshirt and a headband with bunny ears. “I see myself as a visual artist first and I’ve always felt strange that people know me for my music.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_F-Zx9Hjkb/

The prints, drawings, photographs, and other work, she said, are a continuation of, rather than a departure from, her music. Grimes’s described them as “edgy-looking, anime-horror." Such visuals can be seen in her music videos as early as 2012’s Genesis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FH-q0I1fJY

Other pieces are more subtle and include reflections on her life as a public figure. One such work, also titled Selling Out, is a legal document whereby the purchaser acquires a percentage of Grimes’s soul.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_GFlXUHddl/

“The deeper we got with it, the more philosophically interesting it became,” she explained. “Also, I really wanted to collaborate with my lawyer on art. The idea of fantastical art in the form of legal documents just seems very intriguing to me.”

Initially, she didn’t actually want anyone to buy the contract, so she priced it at $10 million to make a sale improbable. However, as a result of the Covid-19-induced global recession, she thought putting such a high price tag on her soul would be a bit loaded. Thus, it is now being listed for “best offer.”

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>'Harry Potter' author to publish fairytale free for locked-down children</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2229247/harry-potter-author-publish-fairytale-free-locked-children</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2229247/harry-potter-author-publish-fairytale-free-locked-children#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 20 05:54:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2229247</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[JK Rowling said she would release online bed-time story she wrote 10 years ago for her kids]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The creator of the Harry Potter books JK Rowling said on Tuesday she would release a free online serialisation of a bed-time story she wrote for her children 10 years ago.

The superstar British writer said she decided to pull The Ickabog story "down from the attic" and publish it for children forced to stay at home during the coronavirus lockdown.

"My now teenagers were touchingly enthusiastic, so downstairs came the very dusty box, and for the last few weeks I've been immersed in a fictional world I thought I'd never entered again," she said in a statement.

[caption id="attachment_1575581" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: J.K. ROWLING[/caption]

Rowling said she would post the first two chapters on a dedicated website -- www.theickabog.com -- on Tuesday, with 34 further instalments released each weekday until July 10.

She then intends to publish the story in English in November and other languages later on. All royalties will be given to projects assisting groups particularly affected by the pandemic.

Written to be read aloud, The Ickabog is a story "in the fairy tale tradition" set in an imaginary land and aimed primarily at children aged between seven and nine.

[caption id="attachment_1434308" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: INSTAGRAM[/caption]

It is unrelated to any of Rowling's other previous works, though she noted it was penned "in fits and starts" between her Harry Potter books.

"The Ickabog is a story about truth and the abuse of power," she said, adding it was not "intended to be read as a response to anything that's happening in the world right now".

"The themes are timeless and could apply to any era or any country," she said.

The author is inviting budding young artists inspired by its "host of colourful characters and fast-paced plot" to illustrate the story and enter their artworks into a global competition being run by her publishers.

[caption id="attachment_1454544" align="alignnone" width="640"] J K Rowling is best known for her Harry Potter books which cast a spell over the world, and enchanting children and willing them to open their imagination. PHOTO: Reuters[/caption]

The winners will have their drawings included in the published book in their part of the world.

"Having decided to publish, I thought how wonderful it would be if children in lockdown, or otherwise needing distraction during the strange and difficult time we're passing through, illustrated the story for me," she said.

Rowling added she wanted to see "imaginations run wild".

"Creativity, inventiveness and effort are the most important things: we aren't necessarily looking for the most technical skill!" she said.]]>
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			<title>Johnny Depp completes painting after 14 years amid lockdown</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2228870/johnny-depp-completes-painting-14-years-amid-lockdown</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2228870/johnny-depp-completes-painting-14-years-amid-lockdown#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 20 11:27:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2228870</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA['Even as we are forced to live in the immediate, some strange species await our return far away' said the actor]]>
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				<![CDATA[Actor Johnny Depp has finally completed a wine bottle painting that he had started 14 years ago.

Depp took to Instagram, where he shared a photograph of his artwork, which he started in 2006.

He captioned: "It's odd, the things that we once gave such pure, intense focus and devotion to for months on end. Then suddenly the wind shifts and off we go on a new tack. And for far too long, these earlier interests or passions sadly fall by the wayside and recede into the vast recesses of some hoarder's crawlspace in the brain cloaked in heaps of the other things that my skull had no room for...until recently."

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAgTqe2JOpn/

The actor shared that he stumbled upon the unfinished painting amid lockdown and wanted to completed the "unfinished business".

"I found this painting, which I had started in 2006... for 14 years I'd never touched the painting - the occasional glance, at best. Yet it somehow always lingered in my mind, this piece of unfinished business," he wrote.

He added: "Even while we are forced to live in the immediate, some strange species of the interrupted passion that has been invested in an object we once focused on awaits our return from far away. I will keep you apprised of the progress! All Love, JD."

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>These adorable Eid illustrations will take you back to your childhood</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2227983/adorable-eid-illustrations-will-take-back-childhood</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2227983/adorable-eid-illustrations-will-take-back-childhood#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 24 May 20 05:19:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Rida Lodhi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2227983</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[And Twitter is in awe!]]>
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				<![CDATA[A couple of weeks ago, a video of #DontRushChallenge was making rounds on social media. The video, made by eight Pakistani visual artists, garnered praises on Twitter and Facebook alike.

The video, lead by Paak Legion famed Umair Najeeb Khan included seven other illustrators, each owning the craft.

However, the recent project by Khan has brought back memories almost every 90s kid holds so dear. Titled, Good Old Bachpan, Umair shared with The Express Tribune that he plans on converting his latest project in a book.

https://twitter.com/UmairNajeebKhan/status/1260945929915465730

"The book basically is a throwback to the 90s, my childhood reimagined, showing how children perceive their parents and family," he shared. "It's centred around moms mostly, but I'm showing other people of the family too."

Umair added that the basic idea behind the project is to keep it as inclusive as possible. "So far it has been received really well," he continued.

On Saturday, the 26-year-old Islamabad based artist shared his Eid illustration. He wrote, "Abbu would take me and my brothers out for Eid shopping every year to get new clothes but little me had to accessorise as well and that meant new topi, shades, wristwatch and a new wallet to bag the Eidi. As soon as we would get home, I’d wear everything and show Ammi my Eid ‘look’."

https://twitter.com/UmairNajeebKhan/status/1264228445606875137

And it's too adorable for words!

He has now shared another one of the Eid illustrations. And it is right on the money!

"Eid was all about eidi back in the day. My competitive self was always a sore loser because my sister would somehow get more Eidi than I did and she would of course always rub it in my face," he shared with an illustration of two kids.

https://twitter.com/UmairNajeebKhan/status/1264406819063070720

And Twitter is in awe!

https://twitter.com/amnawintour/status/1264228747277983744

https://twitter.com/Jisnotlucy/status/1264233021311537153

https://twitter.com/hashimlatif15/status/1264236498423099395

https://twitter.com/awaisali_21/status/1264257762940334083

https://twitter.com/wowwiqi/status/1264230053778522113

Previously, Umair shared a few illustrations based on Ramazan and childhood.

https://twitter.com/UmairNajeebKhan/status/1262057399566901248

https://twitter.com/UmairNajeebKhan/status/1262783881360683020

https://twitter.com/UmairNajeebKhan/status/1263144512874045440

https://twitter.com/UmairNajeebKhan/status/1260619736246882304

According to him, he plans on releasing his book in July. We cannot wait!

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Artists paint Covid-19</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2225209/artists-paint-covid-19</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2225209/artists-paint-covid-19#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 20 00:13:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2225209</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Social distancing ensured at the event held at Rose and Jasmine Garden]]>
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				<![CDATA[Several senior artists from the twin cities of the federal capital gathered in the Rose and Jasmine Garden on Tuesday as they painted the impact of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

The event was organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTN. It featured artists included Nahida Raza, Asrar Farooqi, Riffat Khattak, Riffat Ara Baig, Saima Aamir and Roobia Gulfaraz. Wearing masks and gloves and with their easels socially distant, they painted under the shade of leafy trees.

Raza, in her oil-on-canvas painting, showed how preventive measures can save lives with a woman covering her nose and mouth with a mask while the virus attempts to break through a window.

Farooqi painted a scene from a roadside restaurant with several masks flying in the air to portray public ignorance towards preventive measures.

Baig, who is the head of the Art and Design department at SuperNova School and College, painted a monochromatic scene of a person wearing a mask as others work around this central figure with a distance between them.

Senior artist Khattak painted the miseries faced by people suffering from the virus and the anxiety of the uncertain situation in watercolour.

Aamir painted a landscape with people roaming around but covered the painting with a thin see-through sheet with some stains on it.

Deputy Mayor Syed Zeeshan Naqvi pointed to how Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMCT and the district administration was trying to educate the public about the dangers of Covid-19 but they are behaving carelessly.

“[Careless people] can not only get infected but they will infect others too,” he warned.

He added that the lockdown was eased to facilitate citizens but it did not mean that Covid-19 has disappeared.

Devcom-Pakistan Director Munir Ahmed said the event was aimed at getting the artists out of their hibernation to disseminate the message that they could work while wearing masks and gloves.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Art in perils of pandemic</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2224317/art-perils-pandemic-2</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2224317/art-perils-pandemic-2#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 20 00:47:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Syed Anwar Shah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2224317</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Surviving travesties like terrorism and natural disasters, Bantar’s vibrant culture is faced with yet another battle]]>
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				<![CDATA[As a vehicle for expressing universal emotions, the art of any age is considered to be a window into the workings of its civilisation. Whether it be prehistoric, ancient Egyptian, Greek or Renaissance, art from any time period offers a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the people who came before us, and similarly, it will speak of us to those who come after.

In this sense, artists of all nature are said to be the patrons of civilisation and history. By the same token, the town of Bantar in the middle of Mingora city of Swat too has its own history and identity as told by the art of its people. Before Swat’s accession to Pakistan in 1969, the town was home to some 36 households of performers like nautch girls and courtesans, over time it declined to 20-30 families due to active migration to relatively large cities like Peshawar during the age of Taliban militancy.

The pursuit and practice of art in the Swat valley took a severe hit during the oppressive age of Taliban insurgency, which violently opposed acts of singing, dancing, and performing—all that had been culturally linked to people of the land and their heritage. The Taliban’s brutal public execution of Shabana, a well-known dancer from Bantar, in January of 2009, had sent tremors throughout the local artist community; forcing many to flee town overnight and undergo displacement within their own country.

In the days after the end of militancy and the fall of the Taliban however, the pursuit and practice of performance art and music have made its merry way back to Swat. The many singers and performers who had fled during the insurgency, have returned to their hometown to spread the gift of their art among their people.

For the outsider, it may be rather astonishing to see and experience Swat’s thriving population of performers like nautch girls. These women, skilled in the art of performance, do not only host public concerts but are also cordially invited to perform at family functions like weddings and other celebrations across the valley.

However, where Swat’s vibrant culture rich in art and performance, may have survived many travesties like terrorism and natural disasters, it has once again found itself in the perils of silence. In times of Covid-19, the streets of Bantar have fallen hauntingly silent amid lockdown and the ban on public gatherings. The nautch girls have once again found themselves in clutches; except this time there is nowhere to flee.

When Nelo, a well-known Pashto singer, tested positive for Covid-19, the community stopped performances. “There is a lot of stigmas attached to the disease, the news of artists testing positive mean people will remain apprehensive about attending their shows. This is why, when the news started circulating, Nelo felt the need to come on camera and dispel the claims of her testing positive,” a Swat local commented on the situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Uncovering the secrets of five mysterious works of art</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2221454/uncovering-the-secrets-of-five-mysterious-works-of-art</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2221454/uncovering-the-secrets-of-five-mysterious-works-of-art#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 20 12:11:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2221454</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[There is more to many iconic paintings than meets the eye]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[There is more to many iconic paintings than meets the eye. From a mysterious musical notation found in a Da Vinci piece to figures hidden among layers of paint, these masterworks, compiled from DW, have unique stories to tell.

1) 'Girl with the Pearl Earring' by Johannes Vermee



Scientists who started analysing the painting by the Dutch artist in 2018 found that the background hadn't always been black: Vermeer painted a green curtain that had darkened over time. They also discovered that the girl has thin eyelashes that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Unfortunately, the researchers could not solve the mystery of the women's identity.

2) 'The Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci



According to Vatican researcher Sabrina Sforza Galitzia, there's a secret puzzle in the famous painting, predicting that the end of the world will happen in 4006. What's more, composer Giovanni Maria Pala says he found musical notation encoded in the work, with the hands of Jesus and the apostles and the loaves of bread representing different notes. Da Vinci was known to write musical riddles.

3) 'Self-portrait' by Johannes Gumpp



Although the technique of looking into a mirror while painting a self-portrait was common, it was highly unusual for an artist to actively paint the mirror into the painting. Why Gumpp did this is unknown. Scholars have also pondered a significance between his decisions to include three images of himself. Could it, perhaps, be a reference to the Holy Trinity?

4) 'Las Meninas' by Diego Velazquez



In this scene in the Spanish court it is unclear who is the subject, object, spectator and model. Although they stand together, the figures appear isolated in their own worlds. Many mysteries remain: Does the mirror in the background reflect the image of the Spanish royal couple who have come to observe or is it simply a reflection of what is on the artist's easel?

5) 'The Old Guitarist' by Pablo Picasso



If you look closely, you will discover another silhouette above the head of the man playing guitar in the painting. Researchers found that it is part of a painting underneath the one that meets the eye. Presumably, Picasso painted over an old canvas, but did not completely cover the woman's head. The work hails from Picasso's Blue Period in the early 20th century.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below]]>
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			<title>Don't Rush Challenge by Pakistani visual artists is taking the internet by storm</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2219839/dont-rush-challenge-pakistani-visual-artists-taking-internet-storm</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2219839/dont-rush-challenge-pakistani-visual-artists-taking-internet-storm#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 20 09:18:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2219839</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[This one truly surpasses all the previous challenges we have seen!]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Almost two months ago, Toluwalase Asolo, a 20-year-old business management student at the University of Hull, tweeted a clip with the caption, “The boredom jumped out.”

To the song of Don’t Rush by UK rap duo Young T and Bugsey, she and her seven girlfriends changed looks seamlessly while passing around a makeup brush used as a metaphorical baton.

This one minute and 26-second video would go on to garner 2 million views and become the popular #DontRushChallenge.

We have seen many try the famous challenge before the trend died down. But this recent one by the Pakistani visual artists is taking the internet by storm.

Shared by Umair Najeeb Khan, the brains behind Paak Legion (Pakistan's first superheroes comics) on his Twitter, the minute-long video has garnered more than 77k views by the social media users.

https://twitter.com/UmairNajeebKhan/status/1259867140104114183

In the video, we see eight illustrators take the Don't Rush Challenge and the results were mindblowing! Every artist could be seen in an animated version of him/herself and we are in complete awe. Taking part in the challenge were Khan, Abeer Kasiri, Maha Abdul Alaam, Haris Mansoor, Maheen Z, Samad Rizvi, Saleha Kamran Afzaal and Ameer Zahir Ali.

Twitter lauded the efforts of the illustrators.

https://twitter.com/ChacharMan/status/1260125091947569152

https://twitter.com/newtothefandom/status/1260122138788405250

https://twitter.com/fuzzyrants/status/1260075382088310784

https://twitter.com/SHAHZAIB_PATNI/status/1259963839485030407

https://twitter.com/ItsSabaZainab/status/1259870901065089025

https://twitter.com/shehzilm/status/1259870503445151744

https://twitter.com/Nik_OnSale/status/1260105093145223170

https://twitter.com/s_adil72/status/1259918359979790344

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Google celebrates Saadat Hasan Manto's 108th birthday with doodle</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2218735/google-celebrates-saadat-hasan-mantos-108th-birthday-doodle</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2218735/google-celebrates-saadat-hasan-mantos-108th-birthday-doodle#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 20 05:25:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2218735</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The celebrated writer was born into a middle-class Muslim family in Ludhiana on May 11, 1912]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Google paid homage to the celebrated Pakistani writer, playwright and poet on his 108th birth anniversary with a doodle.

The doodle was designed by Pakistani illustrator, Shehzil Malik, who took to Instagram and shared it. Alongside the doodle, she wrote a caption, which read, "Today is Saadat Hasan Manto's 108th birthday and I was asked to draw the Google Doodle to commemorate the occasion."

Talking about the late author, Malik penned "Manto is a hero to me, so this was a huge honour. Go find the artwork on the Google homepage- and if you haven't read Manto, you need to get on that immediately!"

https://www.instagram.com/p/CACNqLjACa3/

The writer, known for his stories of Indian partition, was a distressingly prophetic and daring writer. He was born into a middle-class Muslim family in the predominantly Sikh city of Ludhiana on May 11, 1912.

In his early 20s, he translated Russian, French and English short stories into Urdu, and through studying the work of western writers he learned the art of short story writing. He usually wrote an entire story in one sitting, with very few corrections, and his subjects tended to be those on the fringes of society.

Manto, who had penned stories in different languages, wrote at least 22 collections of short stories, a novel, five series of radio plays, three collections of essays and two collections of personal sketches.

[caption id="attachment_1891311" align="alignnone" width="640"] A file photo of writer Manto. PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

The playwright, known for his controversial content, has been widely popular when it came to pop culture.

Sarmad Khoosat's film on him made waves in the Pakistani film industry. The film, Manto, was critically acclaimed and starred Khoosat in titular role among Saba Qamar, Sania Saeed and Mahira Khan.

Last year, a Bollywood film Manto, loosely based on his life won big at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The film starred critically acclaimed Indian actor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and was helmed by award-winning director Nandita Das.

Siddiqui was lauded for his brilliant portrayal of Manto onscreen.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Daniel Radcliffe, David Beckham narrated 'Harry Potter' to stream for free</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2215265/daniel-radcliffe-david-beckham-narrated-harry-potter-stream-free</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2215265/daniel-radcliffe-david-beckham-narrated-harry-potter-stream-free#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 20 05:00:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2215265</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[This lockdown just got a little more bearable!]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Spotify and author JK Rowling on Tuesday announced the release of free weekly recordings narrated by celebrities of the first book in the wildly popular Harry Potter series.

To help children - and perhaps adults - cope with confinement measures, Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who played the beloved wizard character in the books’ cinematic renditions, voiced the first chapter of the series’ premiere novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers’ Stone.

He will be joined by coterie stars including soccer legend David Beckham along with actors Stephen Fry and Dakota Fanning, who will lend their voices to the book’s subsequent chapters.

[caption id="attachment_1510611" align="alignnone" width="640"] PHOTO:FILE[/caption]

All 17 chapters will be out by mid-summer, Spotify said, and the recordings will be available cost-free on the music platform, which recently began making strides in the audiobook and podcast realms.

Videos of the celebrity recordings will stream on the website Harry Potter At Home. "Parents, teachers and carers working to keep children amused and interested while we’re on lockdown might need a bit of magic," said Rowling in launching that site last month.

https://twitter.com/wizardingworld/status/1257658900318433280

Rowling’s seven-part Harry Potter series is the best-selling book collection ever, with more than 500 million copies sold to date. The first novel, published in 1997, is the series’ best-seller, with more than 120 million editions purchased.

A version of the book is already available for free streaming on Amazon’s Audible, narrated entirely by Fry. The novel is also available on that platform in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese. The series’ publishers have also temporarily relaxed licensing restrictions, which allows teachers to read the "Harry Potter" books to their students during remote classes.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>Stephenie Meyer announces new 'Twilight' book</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2214362/twilight-prequel-titled-midnight-sun-way</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2214362/twilight-prequel-titled-midnight-sun-way#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 20 05:41:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2214362</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The new book will chronicle vampire Edward Cullen’s past and his love story from his own perspective]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Author Stephenie Meyer thrilled fans of her best-selling Twilight novels on Monday by announcing she will release a prequel that explores the characters’ love story from the perspective of vampire Edward Cullen.

Called Midnight Sun, the new book will chronicle Cullen’s past and the time he first meets Bella Swan, a human high school classmate who later becomes his wife. Earlier installments have been told from Bella’s point of view.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1eVsDZJCy5/

The story “takes on a new and decidedly dark twist” in the upcoming book, publisher Little, Brown and Company said in a description on its website.

Meyer’s original four Twilight books sold more than 100 million copies. They were adapted into a blockbuster film series released by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp starting in 2008 that starred Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.

On ABC’s Good Morning America show, Meyer said she hoped the book would be a welcome distraction from the global Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6duZ1QpUli/

“It’s a crazy time right now, and I wasn’t sure if this was the right time to put this book out, but some of you have been waiting for just so, so long. It didn’t seem fair to make you wait anymore.”

Twilight became a trending topic on Twitter on Monday.

“I’m ready for the hard-hitting teenage heartbreak all over again... I think,” wrote Twitter user @theartsyreader1. “What am I saying, I’m FREAKIN’ EXCITED.”

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below]]>
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			<title>‘Toy Story’, ‘Finding Nemo’ story artist Rob Gibbs dies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2211353/robb-gibbs-man-behind-finding-nemo-toy-story-2-dies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2211353/robb-gibbs-man-behind-finding-nemo-toy-story-2-dies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 20 06:29:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2211353</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He was only 55]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Rob Gibbs, who spent more than 20 years working at the Pixar studios, died at 55 on April 28, 2020, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The story artist, writer and director contributed to many Pixar productions, from Toy Story 2, Monsters, Finding Nemo, Up, Wall-E, Inside Out to Onward. His death was confirmed by a company spokesperson.

However, the cause of death was not immediately available.

Gibbs' credits also included the short film Tokyo Mater (2008) and the series Mater's Tall Tales and Tales From Radiator Springs, all emanating from the Cars franchise; Brave (2012); Monsters University (2013) and the upcoming Monsters at Work series for Disney+ and Incredibles 2 (2018).

Gibbs was co-directing Hump at the time of his death, along with working on its pre-production. The film featured voices of Simon Pegg, Gaten Matarazzo, Ramy Youssef and others.

A resident of San Rafael, California, Gibbs was Born in Escondido, California and inspired by Looney Tunes and Popeye cartoons as a kid. He said he began to appreciate short films after attending a Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation in La Jolla, California.

The late artist attended Palomar College, CalArts and did animation for FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992) and Cool World (1992). This was before he spent five years in story and visual development at Walt Disney Feature Animation, working on Pocahontas (1995), The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue (1998) and Fantasia 2000 (1999).

Gibbs joined Pixar in February 1998 and served as a storyboard artist on Toy Story 2 (1999).

He is survived by his daughter Mary, the voice of Boo in several Monsters, Inc. projects.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>Alia Bhatt is binge reading 'Harry Potter' in quarantine</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2206496/alia-bhatt-binge-reading-harry-potter-quarantine</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2206496/alia-bhatt-binge-reading-harry-potter-quarantine#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 20 06:10:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2206496</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[According to the actor, she has found a 'new friend']]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Alia Bhatt has been keeping her fans updated about her day-to-day activities through various posts on social media.

The star has been spotted learning new skills including cooking and exploring her creative side in many Instagram posts amid the lockdown.

But her latest at-home activity is being admired the most. The actor's sister Shaheen Bhatt recently uploaded a picture of Alia binge reading all the volumes of Harry Potter by J K Rowling.



Shaheen took to her Instagram story to share a picture of her sister engulfed in the books. The Gully Boy actor sat in a casual blue t-shirt and black bottoms with her hair tied in a messy bun, enchanted by the novel.

Shaheen captioned the post, "She's finally reading all the many versions of Harry Potter I have lying around. So proud."

Alia herself shared an aesthetically appealing picture of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in her latest Instagram post, calling the book her 'new friend'.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_UgDHtFAYI/

Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia will be seen in Ayan Mukerji’s film 'Brahmastra' with Ranbir Kapoor, according to Times of India. The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia, Nagarjuna Akkineni and Mouni Roy.

It is slated to release on December 4, 2020.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Mahira Khan's son has made his own Pokémon</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2203307/mahira-khans-son-made-pokemon</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2203307/mahira-khans-son-made-pokemon#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 20 09:15:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gossip]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2203307</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Talk about a supermom with a super kid!]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Mahira Khan may have a future star animator on her hands in the form of her son Azlan!

Yes, Mahira's little one has been working hard to create a new Pokémon, it was revealed on her Twitter, late last night. Addressing the creator of Pokémon on the micro-blogging site, Mahira's son himself penned the note.

"Hello, I am Azlan Askari. Me and my friend have made a Pokémon. We have made the design, the name, the type and the evolutions. Can I have an email to contact you?" wrote the 10-year-old.

https://twitter.com/TheMahiraKhan/status/1252329247407996929

He went on to add a special wish of his. "I am a massive fan of Pokémon and it would make my dream come true if you put my Pokémon in the game."

Shortly afterwards, though, despite the wholesomeness of the original tweet, one user made a snarky remark instead, writing, "Can someone take internet access away from celebrities during quarantine?"

As it turns out, Mahira was all set to clap back at the user - no one messes with a mother. "That’s my son using my Twitter. He has spent this whole month making a kick a** Pokémon animation and asked me if he could someway email or message this man. If only you had bothered reading," she schooled.

https://twitter.com/TheMahiraKhan/status/1252335146629554176

"Oh also, celebrity and super proud," she added for good measure!

You tell 'em, Mahira! And here's wishing Azlan all the best of luck for his dreams.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below]]>
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			<title>'Popeye' and 'Tom and Jerry' animator passes away at 95</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2202349/popeye-tom-jerry-animator-passes-away-95</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2202349/popeye-tom-jerry-animator-passes-away-95#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 20 06:44:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2202349</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Oscar winning animator even directed 13 episodes of 'Tom and Jerry' and some of 'Popeye the Sailor Man']]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Gene Deitch, the Oscar winning animator, filmmaker and illustrator behind the classic cartoon series Tom and Jerry and Popeye passed away at the age of 95, according to Ladbible.




The news was confirmed by his Czech publisher, Petr Himmel. Deitch's death was deemed unexpected. The artist was at his home in Prague on Thursday night, but no further details or cause of death has yet been provided.




He is survived by his wife, and his three sons from a previous marriage. All his sons have followed in their father and mother's footsteps to become cartoonists and animators as well.




Deitch was born in Chicago in 1924 but moved to California as a child. After a brief military career, he quickly made his name in the world of animation and began to receive recognition from those within his industry.



Deitch moved to Prague with his first wife and fellow animator Zdenka Najmanova in 1959. Whilst resident in the Czech capital, he created more than 70 animated movies, as well as seven television series'.


He also wrote a memoir about his life living as an American in Prague under the dictatorship of the Communist Party.




In the book called For the Love of Prague, he described his life as "the only free American living and working in Prague during 30 years of the Communist Party dictatorship."




Despite the fact that he was a US citizen living in the country, and making work for a worldwide audience, he said that the authorities never bothered or interfered with him during that time.






He even managed to direct 13 episodes of Tom and Jerry, and some of the Popeye the Sailor series from behind the Iron Curtain.


However, that didn't the government them banning his film The Giants (Obri) in 1969 for the perceived criticism of the 1968 Soviet invasion of what was then Czechoslovakia.




In addition to the many awards, nominations, and accolades that he received during his career, he also received the Winsor McCay Award in 2004 in recognition for his long-standing contribution to the world of animated cinema.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Artist tells lockdown story in watercolour</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2201509/artist-tells-lockdown-story-watercolour</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2201509/artist-tells-lockdown-story-watercolour#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 20 08:10:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2201509</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Parisian Agnes Goyet is among many amateur artists finding new forms of expression amid self-isolation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[From a bunch of radishes to a sleeping cat, Parisian Agnes Goyet has turned to her life indoors for inspiration as France’s coronavirus lockdown frees her up to pursue her hobby - art.

Goyet, who normally works as a real estate manager, is among many amateur artists finding new forms of expression as governments order confinements to contain the outbreak.



Professional musicians, chefs, actors and athletes around the world are also taking to social media to reach out to the public from inside their homes.

After nearly five weeks in her apartment, Goyet said that updating her watercolour journal had become a daily necessity, as an outlet to escape the pressures of quarantine.

“My journal of drawings is my door, my small opening to the world,” she said, showing off sketches depicting everything from her television set as it beamed French President Emmanuel Macron’s latest speech to her indoor plants.



“I think the lockdown has fostered a lot of creativity,” she said. “We find beauty in everything. Even a simple bunch of radish becomes pretty.”

Goyet, who has been posting her watercolours on Instagram, lives in a 94-square-metre apartment with her two adult children. Since the lockdown began on March 17, she has only stepped out to shop for groceries and once to go jogging.



She said she normally kept journals of her travels, and her usual subjects included nature, architecture and street life. Despite finding joy during confinement, Goyet added that she had one date in mind: May 11, when the French government has said it will start easing some lockdown measures.

“I wait for only one thing, which is to go back to a bistro, take a seat the terrace and to be able to draw outdoors,” Goyet said.

Have something to add to the story? Share in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>Comic-Con 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2200835/comic-con-2020-cancelled-due-coronavirus-pandemic</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2200835/comic-con-2020-cancelled-due-coronavirus-pandemic#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 20 04:37:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2200835</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[When the coronavirus cancels appearances by Batman, Spiderman and all the Star Wars characters, you know it's serious]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Comic-Con San Diego, one of the world's largest pop culture gatherings, has been cancelled for the first time in its 50-year history due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The sprawling convention which draws Hollywood A-listers, billion-dollar franchises and 135,000 screaming fans each year had been due to take place in July.

But it became the latest major festival to be scratched due to the global pandemic after California Governor Gavin Newsom this week indicated mass gatherings were unlikely to be allowed for months to come.

[caption id="attachment_1826171" align="alignnone" width="640"] Children play the latest video games at the 13th Ani-Com comic book and game gair in Hong Kong on July 29, 2011.PHOTO: AFP[/caption]

Organisers announced Friday "with deep regret that there will be no Comic-Con in 2020."

They "had hoped to delay this decision in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might lessen by summer," but warnings including Newsom's comments "made it clear that it would not be safe to move forward with plans for this year."

Fans who had already purchased tickets for the four-day extravaganza will be offered refunds, or the option of attending in 2021.

[caption id="attachment_1978944" align="alignnone" width="640"] A woman is seen dressed up as the character "Creeper" from the video game Minecraft during the Comic-Con international convention in San Diego, California July 13, 2012. PHOTO: REUTERS[/caption]

Comic-Con began life as a small gathering of around 100 comic book fans in a San Diego hotel basement in 1970.

But it has sprawled into a giant launchpad for mainstream Hollywood films and television shows attended by movie stars, studio heads and the world's press.

In scrapping its 2020 edition, Comic-Con follows other major US events such as the Coachella music festival, Las Vegas Cinema-Con summit, and SXSW media and technology festival in Texas.

"The prospect of mass gatherings is negligible, at best, until we get to herd immunity, and we get to a vaccine," Newsom warned at a press conference Tuesday.

"When you suggest June, July, August, it is unlikely."

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>Princess Diana's unearthed letter shows she really was about the people</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2196358/princess-dianas-unearthed-letter-shows-really-people</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2196358/princess-dianas-unearthed-letter-shows-really-people#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 20 10:31:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2196358</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The heartfelt letter included a signature from her young sons at the time, Prince William and Harry]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[When was the last time you sent a thank you card? Or, for that matter, got one? It's always a special gesture, whether you're giving or receiving, but getting one from an actual Royal? That's taking things to a different level.

People reported that a thank-you note from Princess Diana is hitting the auction block at William George &amp; Co — and it shows just how polite and proper the late Princess of Wales was.

The letter goes back to 1989 and was sent to Sergeant George Plumb of Scotland Yard’s elite Close Protection Group. In the note, Diana thanked him for helping with Prince William's seventh birthday. The letter includes a heartfelt message, which is on official Kensington Palace stationery, includes Diana's signature as well as William and Harry's.

[caption id="attachment_2196364" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

"Dear Sgt Plumb, It was so very kind of you and your team to have come here today on William’s birthday. I cannot begin to tell you what pleasure the display gave to all those little people and their mothers! I know how particularly busy you all are at the moment," the letter read.

Princess Diana's 12.5 million dollar beach home in the Bahamas revealed 

"So it meant even more to us that you and the motorbike boys were able to take part in the birthday celebrations! This comes with our warmest possible thanks. It finished, “Yours sincerely Diana, William, Harry.”

[caption id="attachment_2196365" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

The auction lot includes a second letter from Ann Beckwith-Smith, Diana's lady-in-waiting, and a Buckingham Palace envelope that's addressed to 'Sgt George Plumb Special Escort Group.'

"We are delighted to bring this rare item, signed not just by Diana, Princess of Wales, but also by her children, to market," Robin Gray, managing director of William George, said. "Authentic, personal pieces such as this are much sought after and we have experienced a lot of interest in this sale already." Running through to April 23, the next minimum bid for the letter is $10,000.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>April's pink supermoon wows across the globe</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2193530/aprils-pink-supermoon-wows-across-globe</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2193530/aprils-pink-supermoon-wows-across-globe#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 20 11:33:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2193530</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[See some of the most beautiful shots of the rare event, where the moon is closest to Earth]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[If you've been stargazing as part of your at-home activities since the pandemic began, you might have seen the biggest and brightest super moon of the year on Tuesday night.
Supermoons occur when the moon is within 90% of perigee, which is its closest approach to Earth in orbit. The moon will appear brighter and bigger in the night sky, and hopefully no clouds and inclement weather obscured the view.


[caption id="attachment_2193546" align="alignnone" width="625"] Supermoon in France. PHOTO: REUTERS[/caption]
April's full moon, also known as the pink moon, happens to be the closest of the year. People around the world took snaps of the phenomenon around midnight on Tuesday night and into the early morning hours of Wednesday, according to EarthSky.org.


[caption id="attachment_2193547" align="alignnone" width="625"] Supermoon in London. PHOTO: REUTERS[/caption]
The first full moon of spring, its name comes from native North American wildflowers that bloom in early springtime: Phlox subulata, known as "moss pink."
But, don't think that the moon actually looked pink, it just appeared more gold as it rose above the horizon. That's due to an effect caused by the atmosphere, similar to how the sun can appear more red as it rises and sets around the sun, according to NASA.


[caption id="attachment_2193549" align="alignnone" width="625"] Supermoon in Ukraine. PHOTO: REUTERS[/caption]
Space experts also say there are 12 full moons in a year because one occurs each month. But in 2020, October will have two full moons, one on October 1 and again on October 31.
Taapsee Pannu recalls being the Head Girl of her school
This year will have up to four supermoons in total, when the moon appears even brighter and larger in our sky. The next one will occur on May 7.


[caption id="attachment_2193559" align="alignnone" width="625"] Supermoon in Russia. PHOTO: REUTERS[/caption]
As for this month, keep your eyes peeled mid-April for a grouping of Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and the moon in a magnificent, bright alignment. NASA revealed that this won't happen again for a couple of years.
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>J.K Rowling says she's fully recovered from likely coronavirus</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2192499/j-k-rowling-says-shes-fully-recovered-likely-coronavirus</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2192499/j-k-rowling-says-shes-fully-recovered-likely-coronavirus#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 20 05:18:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2192499</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA['Harry Potter' author took to Twitter to reveal what she's been going through]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling said on Monday she had recovered from a suspected case of COVID-19 after two weeks of illness.

“For the last two weeks I’ve had all symptoms of C19, although I haven’t been tested,” Rowling said on her Twitter account. She also shared a video of a breathing technique that she said had helped her manage her worst symptoms and had been recommended by her husband, who is a doctor in the U.K.

https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1247121896082157568

“I really am completely recovered and wanted to share a technique that’s recommended by doctors, costs nothing, has no nasty side effects but could help you/your loved ones a lot, as it did me,” she added.

Chris Hemsworth provides guided meditation for kids amid pandemic 

Rowling, 54, whose Harry Potter book series and subsequent films have millions of fans worldwide, was the latest celebrity to announce they had recovered from the disease caused by a new coronavirus that has taken the lives of more than 70,000 people worldwide.

The growing list includes actors Tom Hanks and Idris Elba, U.S. pop singer Pink and heir to the British throne Prince Charles.

https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1245320037356929025

Rowling last week announced that Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book in the series about the boy wizard, will be available for free worldwide as an ebook and audiobook throughout April, as part of an initiative to help parents, carers and teachers entertain housebound children.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below]]>
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			<title>Shehzil Malik proposes DIY face-masks and protective equipment</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2191856/shehzil-malik-proposes-diy-face-masks-and-protective-equipment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2191856/shehzil-malik-proposes-diy-face-masks-and-protective-equipment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 20 09:06:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2191856</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The artist emphasised on the need for more protective equipment for healthcare workers as well as the general public]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Artist Shehzil Malik has come up with simple prototypes for easy, DIY face-masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of her distinct illustrations.

The aim of her designs is to bring light to simple ways in which people can improvise in the light of shortage of relevant equipment. The artist took to Instagram to share her illustrations coupled with lengthy explanations as to how they work and why it's important to demand better for healthcare workers on the front line against coronavirus.

In her first post highlighting the important of PPE's for healthcare professionals, Shehzil listed down people and organisations working at the forefront to do as much as they can to manufacture and provide help on a short notice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-kjDgwH2-f/

"I spoke to Green Volunteers who are working to distribute PPE around Pakistan, and the situation is pretty intense," she shared, adding that the government is doing what they can "but at regular bureaucratic speed. There’s a shortage in hospitals in major cities and smaller towns are struggling to find supplies."

She went on to list organisations and people that are doing their best, including The Zaman Foundation and designers Asim Jofa and Maheen Khan.

"The Zaman Foundation (behind Leisure Club) is now producing PPE suits. They worked with doctors to design a suit that is made from 100% cotton with washes applied to it that makes it non-breathable and water-repellant. It is not medical grade, but is an acceptable manner of defense," she explained.

According to Shehzil's research, medical grade fabric is harder to procure in the market at this time because it is being sold at exorbitant rates. "If you know a supplier doing this- tell them a profit made at the cost of people dying is a disgrace. Lives dependent on them!" she urged.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-SA9TrH3Rz/

She added how at this rate, the PPE crisis will only mount and the only other way is to find jugaars in the form of DIY. "Right now, doctors are even using garbage bags as gowns- which is terrible but also the kind of desperate ingenuity we need."

"A gown can be fashioned out of found plastic sheets and later disposed. You can use raincoats, parachute material, you can stitch plastic shower curtains," shared the artist.

She, however, emphasised on following guidelines. "Before making your own DIY solution, read the guidelines for isolation gowns by the Centre of Disease Control so you know your limitations."

That's not all. She also shed light on the importance of using face masks at this stage of the pandemic. "Experts now recommend that everyone should cover their face to stop the spread of the virus since it can be transmitted by talking, coughing or sneezing."

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-lx5fGnhYw/

"Researchers are now studying the effectiveness of DIY masks in times of crisis- and say that we can make our own masks so that medical-grade equipment can go to those at the front line," she wrote, before diving into how you too can fashion yourself a good, protective mask right at home.

She ended her post with a much-needed PSA, writing, "If you step out even to get groceries, use a mask or a scarf to cover your face. Cloth masks have their own limitations and will need to be washed after use."

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below]]>
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			<title>Art review: Mughal conflicts in strokes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2190247/art-review-mughal-conflicts-strokes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2190247/art-review-mughal-conflicts-strokes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 20 12:32:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Maheen Aziz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2190247</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[AQ Arif’s latest exhibition focuses on the crises that plagued the empire, as opposed to its architecture]]>
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				<![CDATA[Throughout his career, AQ Arif has been fixated over the lost glory of Mughal Empire and architecture, odes to which went on to became his claim to fame.

With his idée fixe intact, Arif in his latest solo exhibition ‘Epic Mughal’ flirts with the grandeur of Mughal Empire, albeit in ways that are different than his earlier approaches.

A graduate of Karachi School of Arts in 1996, Arif’s previous works had more-so shed light on the Mughal Empire’s architectural history. This time around it was the conflicts that plagued Mughal history, on and off battlefield, that have become the center of his canvas.

[caption id="attachment_2190260" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

“Today’s show is a hard work of many months and his hard work has paid off as all the paintings are sold and the crowd is enjoying the transformation in Arif’s painting,” Muhammad Junaid, Director, Art Citi Gallery told The Express Tribune.

Arif seems confident and courageous enough to push the boundaries at a stage where most shiver at the idea of experimenting. The devil’s advocate, however, would consider this not a departure but an attempt by Arif to move out of his comfort zone.

Van Gogh painting stolen from Dutch museum in a daring heist

“The whole work took me 15 months to complete. The change in approach wasa big challenge for me but I am overwhelmed by the response,” Arif spoke about his new exhibit.

The overall display was a visual representation of wars that took place in Mughal times. It was interesting to observe the selection of colours; from soft to dark hues he boldly and assertively kept changing his palate to make the images look more dramatic as per the demand of the subject.

[caption id="attachment_2190262" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

He used scumbling techniques to add variation and depth in his work. The idea of building layers of broken colours on top of each other added texture and luminosity to the painting.

The paintings ‘Princess on the river bank’ and ‘Prince on respite’ were a major shift towards figuratives in oil which weren’t seen before. The woman holding a flower in her hand reflected the fragility of peace while the jewels and bangles in white highlighted the obsession of the Mughal Royalty with jewelry.

‘On the warpath’ spoke about the aggression of a combatant. Wearing a black metal armour and holding a heavy weapon, the warrior’s intentions are clear ashe rides towards his enemies. The overall scheme of charcoal and black added a lot of character to the offering.

'Pearls of peace' sparkle across Jamshoro

Those familiar with Arif’s work would know that he smartly uses colour schemes to initiate a dialogue with his audience. In ‘Move Forward’ blue hues are used to create a dreamy effect. The image reflected victory, aggression, command, and leadership. The cavalry soldier holding a shield in one hand and a lance spoke evidently about the winning spirit.

[caption id="attachment_2190263" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

At the same time, Arif also plays with the viewer’s perception. The images in some instances have a certain mystery to them; they either look like a compelling print or images made out of sand art.

However, the pursuit of new horizons hasn’t stopped Arif from infatuating about the architecture. The blurred Mughal structures in the background and at times being the focus of a painting clearly hinted that architecture still remains his interest.

The exhibition opened in Artciti Gallery on March 12 and was scheduled to showcase till April 10.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>Here’s what celebrities think you should do in quarantine</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2187986/heres-celebrities-think-quarantine</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2187986/heres-celebrities-think-quarantine#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 20 09:51:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2187986</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Some are providing tutorials while others have provided a list of things you can do, starting today]]>
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				<![CDATA[It has been nine days since Sindh officially locked down and many have been in quarantine since much longer. Although there are plenty out there who have not yet grasped the concept of social distancing, the majority are leading simple lives at home, wondering what to do with their time.

Growing tired of a mundane routine, celebrities and people alike have started YouTube-ing and live chatting with their fans, family and friends.

A few celebrities have recently started activities that you could do with your children while others have made a list of things you could start doing today!

Sarwat Gilani thinks it's the perfect time to be creative

Popular actor Sarwat Gilani thinks quarantine should be all about getting your hands dirty. And this mama doesn't even care if you don't have a paint brush to do it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-RmM4ij8Xq/

Gilani's Instagram has been flooding with arts and craft tutorials as she teaches mothers and kids how to make the most of their time together. She brings in her own kids who sit with her, finishing the tasks she started, decorating walls, painting pots and creating as much as they can.

The actor tells her followers the things they will need for their day's activity in the morning and follows-up on those activities later in the day. So far she has made creative stationary holders, air balloons, hanging wall decorations and paintings you could frame in your rooms.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-PNb7UjB8b/

Maya Ali has a list and 'staying calm' is a priority

Maya Ali made a list of things we could all do and make a habit of in our lives. She posted the list on Instagram with the caption, "Stay calm, relax and make yourself more productive in these quarantine days."

The list started off with things like, "Offering prayers and reciting the Quran," and progressed to keeping our environment and our bodies clean and healthy. "Plantation, gardening. Read books. Start working on your daily routine, time table to do productive things. Watch movies, motivational videos, dramas and documentaries. Paint, do calligraphy and fix your wardrobe." We all know we certainly need to do that.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-W3Eu4n31S/

She went onto list down "cooking, baking and home cleaning," things we're sure all desi mothers are already emphasising on. But the Teefa in Trouble actor also mentioned, "Exercise, Yoga, meditation" and "video calling your friends" as a part of quarantine essentials.

Zahid Ahmed wants you to have all meals at the table

Aside for pointing out the religious habits that we can easily adapt to in these times of isolation, actor Zahid Ahmed also pointed out that parents need to utilise this time with their children. Not to mention, he put "Having all meals at the table with your family," into his list of quarantine essentials.

He said, "Offer all five prayers (do we have an excuse not to?). Read Quran with translation (a little everyday, don't overburden yourself). I recommend an app called 'Hadith' (makes it easy to read hadith from all major books). If your children are small like mine, join them in one hour of cartoon time and play productive indoor games with them."

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-T8diuJsrl/

He then concluded with his 'having all meals together' idea by pointing out how that could help in "discussing the opportunities and blessings we have been given."

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>Van Gogh painting stolen from Dutch museum in a daring heist</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2188001/van-gogh-painting-stolen-dutch-museum-daring-heist</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2188001/van-gogh-painting-stolen-dutch-museum-daring-heist#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 20 08:10:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2188001</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The painting is valued at up to six million euros ($6.6 million)]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Thieves stole a painting by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh early Monday in a daring heist from a museum that was closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 1884 painting, titled the 'Parsonage Garden at Neunen in Spring', was taken during a pre-dawn break-in at the Singer Laren Museum near Amsterdam.



The criminals smashed through a glass door and then took the painting, which is valued at up to six million euros ($6.6 million).

"I am shocked and unbelievably annoyed this theft has happened," Jan Rudolph de Lorm, one of the museum's directors, told a press conference.

"Art is there to be seen, to be enjoyed, to inspire and to bring solace, particularly in these troubled times in which we find ourselves," De Lorm said. The theft happened on what would have been the 167th birthday of the brilliant yet troubled artist.

'Parsonage Garden at Neunen in Spring' comes from relatively early on in Van Gogh's career, before the prolific artist embarked on his trademark post-impressionist paintings such as "Sunflowers" and his vivid self-portraits.

The painting was on loan from its owners, the Groninger Museum in the north of the Netherlands, as part of an exhibition.



The Singer Laren museum closed two weeks ago in compliance with Dutch government measures aimed at tackling the spread of COVID-19. Dutch police said the criminals had broken in at around 3:15 am (0115 GMT).

"Police officers immediately rushed to the scene but the perpetrators had escaped," Dutch police said in a statement, appealing for witnesses. The painting has an estimated value of between one million and six million euros, Dutch art detective Arthur Brand said.

"The hunt is on," said Brand, who is known for recovering stolen Nazi art including 'Hitler's Horses'. It is the third time the famous Dutch master's works have been targeted in the Netherlands since the 1990s, Brand said.

"To me this looks like the work of a copycat," Brand told AFP, adding the modus operandi was similar to the other two cases. "The thieves only went for a Van Gogh, while there are other works too in the museum," he said.

Asked whether he thought there was enough security at the museum Brand said "it is very difficult to say."

"Securing a painting is very difficult. It is something that has to be displayed for people to see," he said.

The museum's 3,000 pieces also include works by Dutch abstract master Piet Mondrian and Dutch-Indonesian painter Jan Toorop, as well as a casting of 'The Thinker' by Auguste Rodin.

Singer Laren was targeted in 2007 when thieves stole a number of castings from its gardens including 'The Thinker,' Dutch media reports said. The castings were recovered two days later.



Two Van Gogh masterpieces went back on display at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum last year after they were stolen from the museum in 2002.

The paintings - the 1882 'View of the Sea at Scheveningen' and the 1884/5 'Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church at Nuenen' - were recovered by Italian investigators in September 2016 when they raided a home belonging to an infamous mafia drug baron near Naples.

Previously three Van Goghs that were stolen from the Noordbrabants Museum in 1990 later resurfaced when a notorious Dutch criminal made a deal with prosecutors.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below]]>
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			<title>#MeToo: Woody Allen memoir released despite protests</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182845/metoo-woody-allen-memoir-released-despite-protests</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182845/metoo-woody-allen-memoir-released-despite-protests#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 20 05:04:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Film]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2182845</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Despite age-old allegations the film director molested his daughter, the books publishers claim 'freedom of speech']]>
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				<![CDATA[An independent publisher released a memoir by film director Woody Allen on Monday after it was dropped by another outlet following protests over a decades-old allegation that Allen molested his daughter.

Apropos of Nothing, the memoir's name, was released nationwide, Arcade Publishing said in a statement.

The autobiography is described as a 'candid and comprehensive personal account' by Allen of his life, career and his relationships with family and friends.

https://twitter.com/BobWeide/status/1241240977580281861

The book was dropped earlier this month by New York-based Hachette Book Group after a walkout by staff and criticism from Allen’s children Dylan and Ronan Farrow.

The four-time Oscar-winning director of Annie Hall and other comedies has repeatedly denied the accusation that he molested his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, in 1992.

“Woody has told his story comprehensively in his book; we highly recommend that anyone with questions reads it,” a spokesperson for Allen said in a statement on Monday.

Harvey Weinstein tests positive for coronavirus in prison

Jeanette Seaver, the co-founder of Arcade Publishing, said in a statement that the decision to release the book was a matter of freedom of speech.

“We find it critical to hear more than one side of a story and more importantly, not to squelch a writer’s right to be heard,” Seaver said in a statement.

https://twitter.com/hilaryr/status/1242275112562446336

“When speakers are shouted down or even assaulted on campuses simply for having a different point of view, journalists are banned from press conferences and truth is too often dismissed as ‘fake news,’ we as publishers prefer to give voice to a respected writer and filmmaker, rather than bow to the politically correct pressures of the modern world,” Seaver added.

Allen, 84, is one of dozens of filmmakers, actors and producers to have been accused of sexual misconduct or faced renewed scrutiny of historical allegations since the #MeToo movement went global in late 2017.

Allen’s 2018 film A Rainy Day in New York was dropped from release by Amazon Studios. His latest film, Rifkin’s Festival was filmed in Spain and has yet to be released.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>#Coronavirus: Ideas of how to turn home quarantine into a holiday</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182371/coronavirus-ideas-turn-home-quarantine-holiday</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182371/coronavirus-ideas-turn-home-quarantine-holiday#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 20 12:11:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2182371</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[If your vacation was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are ways to turn your home into a holiday zone!]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, life seems to be put on pause as  schools, workplaces, cinemas, museums, and even gyms are temporarily shutting down as a precaution to prevent the viruses spread.

In many countries, people are being recommended to stay inside their homes and away from others as much as possible. We are also being encouraged to socially distance from other people to curb contracting coronavirus.

For many, travel plans are also cancelled on put on hold as national borders are shutting off and international flights blocked. If your vacation was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are still some ways to turn your home into a holiday zone while in self-isolation!

It's all about approach 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9_neTUj4qf/

The rapid spread of the coronavirus can really spoil your good mood, especially if a booked trip gets cancelled. Or if you have to go into quarantine. Is this what happened to you? The most important thing is how you approach this situation. If you get angry or upset, it will only make matters worse. Instead, so long as you're not sick, you should enjoy your time off and stay level-headed.

A holiday on the balcony 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B95uKhCpNhD/

The first trees are budding, spring flowers are emerging from the ground and the weather is warming up. Use the time and get your garden in shape or take care of your balcony. And when the sun comes out, grab your sunglasses, listen to music and imagine yourself on a beach.

Browse travel books

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9640RDgj_a/

We may not be able to travel now, but psychologists say that we gain most of our joy from the process of planning a trip anyway. Learn more about the country you want to visit now, so you have historical and social context when you arrive! ⁣

Spa day at home

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-C_xwhHowx/

You love spa holidays? Then relax in the bathtub at home! Perhaps you can find a bubble bath or a face mask hiding in your bathroom cupboard. Afterwards snuggle into your bathrobe and put your feet up. Always try some DIY skincare recipes and keep your skin healthy while indoors.

#Coronavirus: Social distancing tips that won't leave you bored over the weekend 

Time with the family 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B968_2in0e1/

One of the best things about traveling is being able to spend time with family or friends. How often does that fall under the table in the hectic pace of everyday life? Why not play board games together and look at pictures from your past trips.

Cook some new dishes 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-A6WDTJZnn/

The supermarkets remain open, so why not try cooking something new? Look for recipes of specialties and have a go at cooking them! Also, try doing different meals from around the world. Want to go to Turkey? Try whipping up a Turkish dish!

Just enjoy doing nothing 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Di236AfD5/

The best thing about going on holiday is actually being able to be lazy, chill out and do nothing. Why not try that at home too? It will do you good! Also why not watch or read Elizabeth Gilbert's book that is now a major motion picture, Eat, Pray, Love. An expression from the travel-based true story is the Italian phrase La Dolce Far Niente, which translates to 'the sweetness of doing nothing.'

Have something to add to the story? Share in it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>#Coronavirus: 7 books about deadly, infectious diseases</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2175998/coronavirus-7-books-deadly-infectious-diseases</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2175998/coronavirus-7-books-deadly-infectious-diseases#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 20 09:46:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2175998</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Over the centuries, many world famous writers have told stories about contagious epidemics...]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Coronavirus, a word that seems to be on everyone's lips lately. And it's no surprise since the fast-moving infection originating in China has spread to more than 110 countries and claimed more than 4,600 lives.

While the vast majority of known cases are in China, the coronavirus is now spreading faster outside the country than within. Italy, so far, has the highest number of confirmed infections outside China.

The World Health Organization has now declared its spread a global pandemic. However, coronavirus is not the first pandemic to happen in history. Great scholars and writers have penned down what it was like to live through monumental infectious diseases and the effect it had on society at the time.

Here are some famous works throughout history on the topic.

Giovanni Boccaccio: 'The Decameron' (1349-1353)

[caption id="attachment_2176041" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

Seven women and three men flee the plague to a country house near Florence. As cruel as the descriptions are at the beginning, the 100 novellas in the collection are surprisingly entertaining. To pass the time, each of the fugitives determines a topic per day and everyone has to tell a corresponding story. Subtle or crude, tragic or comical — a whole world unfolds.

Thomas More: 'Utopia' (1516)

[caption id="attachment_2176044" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

On a faraway island, a sailor discovers an ideal society: There is equality among the locals, it is democratic, ownership is communal. It was the opposite of life in England at the time. And, there were no epidemics, unlike England that had suffered from the plague more than once. The above photo shows Dresden Semper Opera dancers as "Utopians" in a musical theater project based on More's novel.

Francis Bacon: 'New Atlantis' (1627)

[caption id="attachment_2176046" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

Bacon envisioned a utopian island by the name of Bensalem, home to the people of the lost city of Atlantis. They are very involved in research and science, and inventions including the submarine, wind turbines and hearing aids are anticipated on "New Atlantis." Foreign seafarers were initially quarantined to protect islands from possible diseases.

#Coronavirus: 6 ways to effectively work from home

Daniel Defoe: 'A Journal of the Plague Year' (1722)

[caption id="attachment_2176047" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

Daniel Defoe, five years old and whisked away to the countryside to keep him safe during the Great Plague in London, relied on eyewitness accounts and meticulous research for his description of the devastating events. Defoe tells the tale of a city in a state of emergency, faced with hysteria, superstition, unemployment, looting and fraud.

Albert Camus: 'The Plague' (1947)

[caption id="attachment_2176049" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

In Camus' "The Plague," a doctor by the name of Bernard Rieux describes how first rats die of the plague, followed by thousands of citizens in the Algerian port city of Oran. Everyone takes a different approach to the fight against the Black Death, but in the end, it kills the innocent and the ruthless alike.

Stephen King: 'The Stand' (1978)

[caption id="attachment_2176052" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

A mutant virus breaks out of a military research laboratory and kills almost the entire US population. Only few are immune, left to assert themselves in a depopulated world with a collapsed infrastructure. Two groups — basically the "good" and the "evil" — emerge, both headed by charismatic leaders.

Love in the Time of Cholera (1985)

[caption id="attachment_2176055" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: FILE[/caption]

Love in the Time of Cholera is a celebration of life over death, love over despair, and health over sickness. It is the story of Florentino Ariza, who was rejected by Fermina Daza in his youth.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below. ]]>
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			<title>‘Pearls of Peace’ sparkle across Jamshoro</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2176108/pearls-peace-sparkle-across-jamshoro</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2176108/pearls-peace-sparkle-across-jamshoro#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 20 09:44:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Maheen Aziz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2176108</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Third International Watercolour Biennale brought painters from 80 countries under one roof]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A cultural capital with immense historical significance, Jamshoro has been hosting the International Watercolour Biennale Pakistan since 2016, giving hundreds of artists one platform to spread the message of peace, love and harmony through their work.

This year, on February 26, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET)’s Center of Excellence in Arts and Design (CEAD) hosted the third edition of the acclaimed event, titled ‘Pearls of Peace III.’

It was a symphony of watercolours which brought together watercolour masters and young watercolorists from 80 countries around the world. The event did not only showcase awe-inspiring works but was filled with different engaging and exciting activities too, taking place at different corners of the city. From folk music to cultural dance to exhibitions and traditional food stalls, the guests enjoyed Jamshoro to the fullest.

[caption id="attachment_2176120" align="alignnone" width="625"] Photo: File[/caption]

The curator, country leader and renowned artist Ali Abbas Syed, co-curator Fatima Ali and Director CEAD Bhai Khan Shar expressed their gratitude toward foreign artists who managed to come at the time of a global health crisis. Alena Kruglova (Russia), Asuman Dogan (Canada) Bea Strugo (Argentina), Natalia Studenkova (Ukraine), Diana Toma (USA), Bob Hannah (USA), Pedja Acimovic (Italy) and Vladimir Marcos (Argentina) enjoyed the hospitality in Pakistan and left with a happy heart.

The founder and president of the International Watercolor Society Mr Atanur Dogan has always attended the Biennale to celebrate the success of the platform that he founded in 2014. He, along with watercolorist Moazzam Ali (Watercolor Master Award and best Juror Award recipient) and Rabia Nawab (Appreciation Award and Best Juror Award recipient) distributed the awards among the winners of an online painting contest.

[caption id="attachment_2176118" align="alignnone" width="625"] Photo: File[/caption]

It was exhilarating to see MUET becoming a platform of cultural exchange and dialogue, allowing attendees to learn and broaden their horizons. They could feast their eyes on the mesmerising watercolour images arranged in different rooms of CEAD. An array of subjects co were covered by the paintings, portraying different cultures and countries, landscapes, portraits, cityscapes, seascapes, abstracts and still objects.

The painters had beautifully conveyed the message of love to a wider audience. One would be intrigued by the dexterous techniques of colour-blending with nimble strokes and creating clear and decipherable, strong images while keeping the beauty and transparency of the medium alive.

There was also a mime performance by CEAD students about climate change and our environment, which won the hearts of the audience. The students narrated the evolution of human kind and how materialism doomed it.

Dogan said that the branch of IWS in Pakistan is the strongest one and the Biennale is proof of that. The purpose of arranging it is to introduce the art of one country to another and spread love among them.

[caption id="attachment_2176117" align="alignnone" width="625"] Photo: File[/caption]

“Born and brought up in Turkey, I founded the IWS in 2011 in Teos, Turkey, and a branch was opened in 2015 in Pakistan with eminent artist Ali Abbas Syed. I want to tell all the people present today that art gives a message of peace and love only. People should see this face of Pakistan and not the negativity portrayed about the country,” he announced.

The artists also set a record by painting a 22-meter long sheet in the lawns of CEAD. The live demonstrations gave a chance to art enthusiasts and students to see the techniques and processes of fusing colours by the masters. To appreciate their services, Lifetime Achievement Awards, Excellence Awards and Appreciation Awards were also distributed.

The third installment of ‘Pearls of Peace’ also made history by bringing the largest number of artists from all over the world under one roof and ensuring the legacy of watercolour is still appreciated.

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			<title>Amitabh Bachchan pens a poem on coronavirus</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2175466/amitabh-bachchan-pens-poem-coronavirus</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2175466/amitabh-bachchan-pens-poem-coronavirus#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 20 12:08:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Entertainment Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[In his poem, Amitabh Bachchan talks about the several home remedies people are coming up with to fight COVID-19]]>
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				<![CDATA[The fear is global and the Bollywood industry is as paranoid as any other in the case of the coronavirus. Several have took to social media to give health related messages to their followers, while the Big B of the industry has even penned down a poem.

As scared as any other fraternity member, Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday expressed his concerns over the spread of coronavirus. He ‘doodled’ a poem on the same, and also asked his fans to stay safe. He also shot for a video to advocate the preventive measures for COVID-19 for the UNICEF and the health ministry of India.

The actor narrates the poem in Awadhi, the language of his hometown Allahabad, according to The Indian Express. In the poem, he talks about the several home remedies people are coming up with to fight COVID-19, and he is confused about whom to believe.

The Badla actor shared the poem on his social media accounts and captioned it, “Concerned about the COVID 19, just doodled some lines, in verse, please stay safe.”

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9pJ6qpBn2n/?utm_source=ig_embed

Later, he also mentioned in his blog, “WHO and UNICEF have also asked me to send out video messages, which I did .. but they are more formal .. this in Awadhi was my own doing .. one is never too far away from their Mother tongue! stay safe, stay alert, stay..”

Not just Amitabh Bachchan, several other Bollywood actors urged their fans to stay safe and take necessary precautions. Priyanka Chopra shared a video of the times she greeted her fans with a ‘Namaste’. Along with it, she wrote, “It’s all about the Namaste. An old but also new way to greet people in a time of change around the world. Please stay safe everyone!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9pSfDBp_zv/?utm_source=ig_embed

Kartik Aaryan, who is shooting for his next in Lucknow, shared also shared a video from the sets where everyone can be seen wearing masks. He captioned the video, “Stay safe guys. Can’t stress this enough #WashYourHands #CoronaStopKaroNa.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9p-CV9pUAR/?utm_source=ig_embed

The entire entertainment industry has taken precautionary measures in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and it's time the world wakes to the apocalypse it is now under.

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			<title>The aesthetics of Aurat March 2020</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2172813/aesthetics-aurat-march-2020</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2172813/aesthetics-aurat-march-2020#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 20 06:19:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Asfa Sultan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Amid controversy over slogans, marchers show off their creativity]]>
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				<![CDATA[March 8 marks International Women&#39;s Day around the globe but in Pakistan, it also marks the single most polarising day of the year - the day of the Aurat March.

Despite unprecedented backlash from the far-right, on Sunday, Karachi witnessed hundreds protesting with increased fervour, demanding their rights. The venue echoed with chants of &#39;Hum lekay rahengay, Azadi,&#39; (we will take our freedom, come what may) as hands swirled in the air to the sound of Laal Meri.


PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

The evening saw a series of emotions and diverse groups of people coming together for similar objectives. But what visuals did they bring to aid their cause? From where we stood, they could either be perceived as a threatening array of colours too bold to be worn by the ordinary - or a rainbow that fades eventually but scrapes its way across the sky, demanding to be noticed and remembered.


PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

The inciting slogans from preceding years had to be toned down without becoming ineffective by any measure. As the march matured, participants understood that their witty slogans may not convey the right message to the audience they were trying to reach.


PHOTO: YUMNA AFTAB/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

The year&#39;s theme demanded bodily autonomy, terming itself as &#39;mera jism meri marzi&#39; (my body, my choice), but for some, the slogans had to be broken down lest the general public deemed them &#39;immoral,&#39; or &#39;vulgar&#39;. Thus, many produced some interesting works of craft with their pens, papers and, well, memes.


PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

You don&#39;t speak German with the French, unless you want to tick them off. So you put a spin on that, in a fun way of course, and produce Meray Paas Tum Ho memes with Khalilur Rehman Qamar&#39;s face etched on the posters, which is exactly what many did.

Read: Aurat March placards turn up the heat against Khalilur Rehman


PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

One poster even called for Daya (from CID) to break the patriarchy (instead of the door), while another used Deepika Padukone&#39;s picture to point out how not every girl dreamed about aik chutki sindoor.


PHOTO: WOMANISTAN/INSTAGRAM

But many knew that even that would provoke hatred, so they created many versions of the single phrase that drove the primary discourse before the march. Thus, it broke into questions like &#39;mera poster, tumhari marzi?&#39; (my poster, your choice?), making way for &#39;mera mazhab, meri marzi&#39; (my religion, my choice) in an allusion to forced conversion, and &#39;mera wajood, meri marzi&#39; (my existence, my choice), with the four words taking many forms but revolving around similar notions.


PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN/EXP RESS TRIBUNE

Those who did not want to question these notions, or target any figures to put a point across, came up with several other ways to express their demands without politicising them. They hung slogans from their ears and around their necks, claiming that their time is here. They marched across the roads, donning ajrak with slogans wrapped across their bodies.


PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Others, however, highlighted that they don&#39;t require anyone&#39;s permission to thrive, with some simply deciding to look like Frida Kahlo as their eyebrows did the talking.


PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

And although the march has wrapped up until next year, the demand for rights and freedom still remains. And so do the questions - will the need for such creative measures present itself with such urgency in future years? Or will dissent fall silent?


PHOTO: ASFA SULTAN/EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Here&#39;s hoping that women - and those who stand with them - continue to find it in themselves to express without restraint.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Art and revival : Conserving the art style of movie hoardings through political imagery</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2172097/art-revival-conserving-art-style-movie-hoardings-political-imagery</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2172097/art-revival-conserving-art-style-movie-hoardings-political-imagery#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 20 05:05:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zulfiqar.baig]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category><category><![CDATA[Film]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2172097</guid>
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				<![CDATA['The Art Code gallery advised me to start painting portraits of famous politicians']]>
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				<![CDATA[In its nascent days, handmade movie hoardings were the most popular and the perhaps the only form of film publicity in the country. Expert artists would start by hand-drawing the scene on a giant canvas and dividing it into smaller portions. With great care, they would mix the right shade of pigment with varnish and coat each portion separately with flat colours.

At this stage, the giant blotches of flat colour would make little sense up close but viewing from a certain distance is when the scene would start to take a dynamic form.

The varnish would add sheen to the colour and increase its lifespan, and once dry; the artist would add the remaining details to the scene and join the tin sheets to prepare the hoarding for placement. Final strokes would then be applied to the installed board to complete the hoarding for public viewing.

However, the tradition only lasted the first five decades of Pakistani Cinema before the introduction of computers in the 1990s, which propelled the industry into the digital age; putting and experts and artists who had built a career painting movie hoardings looking elsewhere for a muse.

One such artist, dubbed Mohsin Raza, recently came into light when a painting of his featuring Premier Imran Khan with wife Bushra Bibi and ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith caught the attention of Jemima herself and the internet at large.

According to Raza, although he now paints all kinds of politicians, he began his career in 1974 as a movie hoarding painter in Lahore, where his work gained him recognition in the still budding film industry.

Netflix series to produce series based on 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' 

“I have always enjoyed painting. I would spend hours trying to paint faces of movie stars even before I started getting paid for it. Actresses Rani and Anjuman were my favourite faces to paint,” said Raza, recalling his days as a young painter in the buzzing city of Lahore. “Soon when took up painting movie hoardings as a profession, my paintings began to appear outside cinemas not only in Lahore but across the country, seeing which brought me immense joy,” he added.

Speaking about his work at the Art Code gallery, the artist shared that ever since end of his career as movie hoarding painter, he’s invested his time in painting renowned faces like that of former President Asif Ali Zardari, former Premier Benazir Bhutto, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and former CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif for murals and personal collections.

“The idea came to me when I was contacted by people from the Art Code galley and they advised me to start painting portraits of famous politicians in the style of old Pakistani movie hoardings,” Raza told The Express Tribune. “They have organised displays and exhibitions for my work and I have also been asked to offer painting classes to young and budding painters through the gallery’s cooperation,” he added.

Today, in the digital age, cinema publicity has generated a new visual language which is a mix of indigenous and western design elements. However, Raza believes that old Pakistani movie hoardings represent a very specific indigenous style of art which needs to be preserved and protected for the generations to come.  “Although some street cafes and restaurants still use the art style to decorate their premises, the government needs to step in and take initiatives to conserve and revive the art of painting movie hoardings as it did with Truck Art.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9th, 2020.

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			<title>Woody Allen memoir cancelled by publisher amid backlash</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171824/woody-allen-memoir-cancelled-publisher-amid-backlash</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171824/woody-allen-memoir-cancelled-publisher-amid-backlash#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 20 08:27:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Art and Books]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2171824</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The filmmaker has long been accused of molesting his adoptive daughter Dylan Farrow]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A leading publisher, Hachette, on Friday scrapped plans to release the autobiography of filmmaker Woody Allen following an outcry and a staff walkout. He has long been accused of molesting his daughter.

Hachette's announcement came after Allen's son Ronan Farrow, who is extremely critical of his father, denounced the book group over Apropos of Nothing, originally scheduled to hit shelves next month.

"The decision to cancel Mr. Allen's book was a difficult one," a spokeswoman for Hachette said in a statement emailed to AFP, adding it would return all rights to the author.

Allegations that Allen molested his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow when she was seven years old in the early 1990s have dogged the Oscar-winning filmmaker for decades.

The 84-year-old director of Annie Hall and Manhattan was cleared of the charges, first leveled by his then-partner Mia Farrow, after two separate months-long investigations, and has consistently denied the abuse. But Dylan, now 34, maintains she was molested.

[caption id="attachment_2171831" align="alignnone" width="625"] Photo: AFP[/caption]

Hachette said on Monday its Grand Central Publishing subsidiary would release Allen's memoir in the United States on April 7. This sparked an immediate backlash with high-profile investigative journalist and best-selling author Ronan Farrow, brother of Dylan, saying on Tuesday he would no longer work with Hachette.

Ronan has long defended Dylan, who renewed her accusations against Allen in the wake of the #MeToo movement in early 2018.

On Thursday, dozens of employees company employees in New York staged a walkout in protest at the decision to publish the memoir. "We stand in solidarity with Ronan Farrow, Dylan Farrow, and survivors of sexual assault," the employees said in an email, Publishers Weekly reported.

The spokeswoman for Hachette said company executives had engaged in "extensive conversations" with staff and others in the past few days.

"After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG," she said. She added that the imprint does "not cancel books lightly."

Allen did not immediately comment.

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