Creative projects: Arts students illustrate culture, history at exhibition

Work of College of Arts and Design students to be on display until 14th .



LAHORE:


A three-day exhibition, featuring work of six students of College of Arts and Design of the Punjab University, opened on Friday evening.


The work of bachelor of fine arts (BFA) illustration students Anam Fraz, Rooha Razzaq, Syed Muddasir Kazmi, Mubashara Sattar Niazi, Sundas Jabeen and Mahrukh Akhtar remain on display until July 14.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Anam Fraz, whose thesis topic was Raising the Rank of Urdu, said most people had forgotten their cultural values. “I think most of us feel lost. So I have taken a small step forward in promoting Urdu,” Fraz said.

Artist Rooha Razzaq, whose thesis topic was The Illustrative Quran, said an artist first questioned his or her purpose. “I asked myself what it is that I hold the dearest? Then I started working on this project,” she said.

“There is no better artist than the one who can bring out his or her feelings on a paper. I have always believed that my artistic talent is a gift form God. I have tried to thank Allah through these Quranic illustrations,” she said.

Artist Mubashara Sattar Niazi, whose thesis topic was The Revival of Basketball in Pakistan, said basketball was a popular game throughout the world. “It builds confidence, gives you a positive attitude and keeps you physically fit,” she said.

“However, the game is not popular here. As an illustrator, I designed a worldwide talent exchange programme in which Pakistani players will be able to play at international level,” she said.

Artist Mahrukh Akhtar said her topic had been inspired by Charles Dickens’ novel The Old Curiosity Shop. “I want to encourage curiosity and to inform the people to utilise it for their benefit,” she said.

“In my illustrations, the shop is our world, the brands of curiosity are wonder, the scholar, eye-candy, tabloid and morals. We should choose carefully because we pay for our choices,” she said.

Artist Sundas Jabeen said The Box City was her first animated movie. “I have always wanted to do this. It will be easy for the audience to relate to it,” she said.

“I wanted to show people how difficult and interesting it is to make animated movies. It is not just the frames which are sliding one after the other. The main thing is observation. The artist has to work on each frame,” she said.

Artist Mudassir Kazmi said his topic Aslaaf-The Story of Legends was about Islamic history.

“I am trying to revive the glory and grandeur of our ancestors by reintroducing them to our youth. Not many know the names of Abbas ibn Firnas, Al Jazari or Avicenna and others, who made tremendous contributions to science,” he said.

Kazmi said he had used the medium of game to convey his message.

“The player Baybrus has to collect powers from Muslim scientists to fight against Hulegu Khan. This is the best way to acknowledge the work of great Muslim scientists and to make them popular among our youth,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2014.

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