Every effort counts: Celebrating the women of our society

Capital’s civil society gets together for International Women’s Day.

ISLAMABAD:

With activities related to the International Women’s Day taking place around the globe, the civil society of capital got together to put their best foot forward on Thursday.

In the spirit of celebrating the woman in our society the Nomad Gallery, UN Women, Mashal School and various artists gathered at the Nomad Gallery with a day full of art, creativity and some positive reflection.

The gallery garden consisted of arts and crafts by several NGOs and paintings personally made by Mashal School children, a school providing education for under privileged children.

The reason for including the young students in the event was to sensitise them about the issue,” said the curator of the gallery Nageen Hayat. It is important that we cultivate young minds for a better tomorrow,” she added.

While many visitors readily bought the colourful art made by the young children simply for a good cause, for the children things were simpler. “I drew a house and a school, because a school is for education and a house is where your family is,” informed a smiling little Sana, who studies in grade two.

The gallery inside was adorned with art works by prominent female artists-- Nahid Raza, Hajra Mansoor, Tabasaaum Rizwi, Anjum Ayub, Humera, Rukhe Neelofar Zahid, Shireen Ikram, Zaira Ahmed Zaka and Mussarat Naheed Imam.

The woman, strong and lithe and shy and confused all were present across the gallery walls, changing the mood with every new piece one couldn’t help but appreciate the diverse mediums and works displayed.

Nilofar paints on a large canvas with brighter colours and straighter lines with a young girl sitting on the floor in her two pieces. In both pieces, the females facial features are somewhat hidden which adds a tinge of mystery as to what exactly is the young girls mood.

Ayub sticks to harsh reality with black, white and red with a downcast woman distorted, perhaps in pain, writhing for freedom.

However, with all the harsh realities there are, Humera’s quirky and colourful pieces of abstract women bring a lighter appeal to the exhibition. “I like these pieces best, there’s something very eclectic about them. Perhaps we should try being brighter and bolder on such days,” stated one visitor to another while viewing the art works.

Besides the art works, Kishwar Naheed read out several poems and encouraged the young children to make a change in the society. “Instead of letting your mother do all the house work, help her and be respectful towards your sisters,” she stated to the giggly children who agreed in unison.

The art exhibition will continue till the 9th of March.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2013.