Ways to discipline: ‘Standing murghas’ transport visitors back to school

Sculptures by Fahim Rao can be taken home for Rs35,000 each after exhibition ends on April 14 .

KARACHI:

Realising that every child learnt discipline the hard way, 31-year-year sculptor Fahim Rao, wonders when adults will have their 'Panchwaan Period'.

"I remember the fifth period of mathematics so well," Rao laughed. "We were punished if we did not obey the rules. I wonder when the adults will be punished for not obeying the rules."

At the launch of 'Panchwaan Period' exhibition at Koel Gallery on Thursday evening, an entire portion was dedicated to standing murghas [roosters] made out of fibreglass to remind visitors of the time in school when they were told to imitate a rooster as a form of punishment.

Fahim Rao has made ornaments out of his childhood memories. He made ornaments representing repeated homeworks. PHOTO COURTESY: KOEL GALLERY

The other side of the room had metal objects made of multiple lines of various dimensions - they showed repetition and 'writing lines' that teachers sometimes used to punish students. "I reflected on an exercise that we used to do as a child," Rao recalled. "We were asked to do homework 10 times if we failed to do it the first time."

Why can't people just follow rules?

"When I was learning art as a discipline, I did not realise that the art of 'feeling' would earn such a place in my life," said the artist. "I like it when I create something, the feeling is great."

Having travelled to New Delhi, Dhaka and Washington DC on a World Bank artists' show, Rao feels that people in Pakistan have surpassed all forms of disobedience. "I used to think that others should learn our way of live, as we are Muslims, but now I think we have a lot to learn from them," he admitted.

"When there are rules and regulations, why can't people just follow them?" he asked, clearly an issue that upsets him. "If you are driving on the road, the person in the next car is going to honk at you until you move aside and give them space," he said, giving an example of road rage. "It's like there is no consideration for others. If people are punished for what they do, I think there will be more discipline," he felt.

"I made these sculptures as I wanted to reflect back on the times I spent as a child. Those times mean a lot to me and made me who I am."

Zuha Saleem, the gallery manager, admitted that her first impression of the artist was that he was weird. "He is a typical artist but in a weird way," she said. "I am a miniature painter myself but this artist is quite hardcore and a perfectionist."

Price to pay

The visitors at Rao's exhibition could not wait for the exhibition to end so they can take the pieces home. Nuraiyah Shaikh, a printmaker artist who teaches at Indus Valley School, insisted Saleem let her buy one on the day of the launch, but she was told to wait. After April 14, the standing murghas will be available for sale at Rs35,000 each. Shaikh and her friend have both placed their orders.



"I look at the sculptures and I feel like I have been transported back to time," Shaikh exclaimed. "The beauty is, that you don't feel the horror of this punishment as we used to, back in the days."

Two MBA students of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Nehal and Hassan, were quick to clarify that they were art admirers, and not collectors. "His work truly reflects our culture," said Hassan, who is also working at Gandhara Art Gallery. "We are among those people who can only follow rules when we are forced."

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2014.