‘Opening Lines’: A caravan of wandering artists

50 artists contributed their work to the pro bono exhibition.

ISLAMABAD:

Art works by 50 prominent artists including Salima Hashmi, Waseem Ahmed, Jamil Baloch, Rakhshanda Atawar and Saeed Akhtar is being featured in the Opening Lines show here at Islamabad Stock Exchange.

The pro bono exhibit will travel to nine different locations around the city between April and November in order to expose quality art to the public eye.  “Making this endeavour happen was more complicated than it sounds,” said Salima Hashmi, “It involves immense effort on part of those who make art as well as those who experience it.”

Art thrives mainly on private galleries in Pakistan, where the basic aim is not only to exhibit but also sell pieces. With such exhibitions, viewers from all walks of life with different economic backgrounds can come and enjoy art as objective viewers.

An element of subjectivity is added with a price tag attached to any item. The idea behind this specific collection is to expose students and the odd viewer to the great names doing the rounds in the Pakistani art circuit.

The primary focus of these exhibitions will be public buildings, schools, colleges and universities. With dire need to expose students to quality art, Opening Lines, according to its organisers, aims to allow the viewer to look at work without the obligation to purchase. Consequently, it becomes easier to judge work for what it is rather than the price tag it comes with.

The artists were not restricted as far as medium is concerned. However all of them used paper instead of canvas in their art pieces.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2011.