ISLAMABAD:
Perseverance has finally paid off for Naeem Pasha, the director of Rohtas Gallery, which is all set to commemorate its three decades of existence.
On Saturday, Pasha called a press conference at the gallery to formally announce the occasion. He said that an art exhibition is being organised at the National Art Gallery on September 24 that will feature over 160 art pieces by 64 artists from across the country.
“It has taken us an entire year to organise the exhibition. We’ve called upon internationally-acclaimed artists who started their career along with Rohtas Gallery,” he said, adding that young artists have also been invited to come forward and showcase their work. “The idea is not just to celebrate Rohtas but to reminisce and celebrate the evolution of art in Pakistan,” said Pasha, as he introduced the show’s curator, Quddus Mirza, a well-known artist, teacher, and an art critique.
“The exhibition will bring back confidence among our artists. When I was young I would open art books and read the names of western artists. Now I see the names of Pakistani artists, which makes me proud,” he stated.
“This has happened without the help of the state, it is simply due to the love and passion for art,” said Mirza.
Founded in 1981 in Faizabad, the gallery displayed calligraphy and abstract art during the dictatorial rule of General Ziaul Haq. However, it now stands as one of the oldest galleries in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2012.
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