Painted reflections of Margalla’s beauty, apathy

Top artists who participated in live competition awarded

ISLAMABAD: As the world marked International Mountain Day, in the capital, 17 large oil paintings reflecting the beauty and apathy of the Margalla Hills National Park were put on display to remind the public of their beauty and duty to protect this natural habitat.

The exhibition was held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). Paintings had been made during a live-painting competition for art teachers organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) with the support of United Nations Development Programme— Pakistan Environment wing in connection with the seventh Pakistan Mountain Festival.

The best five paintings won cash prizes, certificates and shields sponsored by UNDP Pakistan. The top five included Maryum Rasul, Saima Ashraf, Abeera Habib, Muhammad Adnan Hafeez and Riffat Ara Baig.



Their work had been judged by a jury comprising well-known artist Nahida Raza, Fatima Jinnah University Fine Arts Department Head Dr Surriya Chaudhary, and Devcom-Pakistan Director Munir Ahmed. UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Pakistan Neil Buhne along with Italian mountaineer and EvK2CNR President Agostino Da Polenza gave away the prizes to the winners at the PNCA.

Briefing about the painting competition, Devcom-Pakistan Director and the Founding Director of the Pakistan Mountain Festival Ahmed said, “The objective of the activity [live painting competition] was to capture the beauty and the biological diversity of the mountain environment as well as to reflect the challenges confronting the Margalla Hills National Park.”



He added that the competition was a rare opportunity for the busy female art teachers, who hardly find time to explore their own creative passion. “On-the-spot painting for art teachers was a creative retreat and continuity of their expression for the projection and mainstreaming of the mountain’s ecosystems. I believe that art can be used in multiple ways to enhance aesthetics in society leading to conservation and protection of nature to the cleansing of the social environment,” he added.

“Environmentally sensitised teachers, especially those teaching art, can give a push to the environmental conservation efforts through aesthetically enriched visuals. There is need to engage and sensitise teachers their active role in the conservation efforts. A sensitised teacher is more effective than anyone else in the society because of the social status that a teacher enjoys in the society.”

Baig, who was also the coordinator of the competition, said “It was quite unusual for the art teachers to take part in the competition since they usually organise such events for their students. Competing to explore and being recognised for their creativity as experienced teachers and practising artists, the response has been very exciting and encouraging. The enthusiasm of the art teachers showed their passion to be competitive even at this phase of life.”

Baig went on to say that several art teachers have asked to expand the scope of the initiative to make it a permanent programme and to develop and groom a devoted group of art-activists to engage the youth and their families in raising awareness and outreach on communicating climate change and other relevant subjects. Ashraf, who came in second, termed the competition of great value.



She added that the initiative of bringing art teachers out of the professional routine and giving them an opportunity to express themselves by live painting on the spot was highly appreciable.

“I really enjoyed the time spent outside to paint after such a long time,” Ashraf said, adding that the award ceremony was also outstanding and acknowledging one’s talent and creativity.

“It was a wonderful platform for the nature lovers. The beauty of nature can have a profound effect upon our senses, those gateways from the outer world to the inner was really enjoyable,” said Beanish Ali, one of the competitors.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2017.