On display: The written word is sacred

Exhibition features work of students from NCA’s diploma in fine arts.

LAHORE: Nation College of Arts (NCA) Principal Murtaza Jafri said on Monday that there was a pressing need to revive traditional arts.

He was speaking at an exhibition displaying the works of students from the varsity’s diploma in traditional arts programme. Jafri said the public’s response to the programme had been overwhelming. “The written word is sacred,” he said commenting on the dying art of calligraphy.

Calligrapher Rizam Ali said he had broken traditional rules governing the art in his work on display. He said he had tried to create a different impact by using large canvasses. Ali said he had not tried to create an image in accordance with the names he had worked with in two of his paintings. “I chose to let the composition dominate the piece, he said.

Laika Butt, another artist, said one of her pieces was a replica of the original fresco of a pattern at the Maryam Zamani Mosque. She said she had replicated the fresco in its original colour.

Rubab Aslam, another artist, said she had worked with the neem rang technique in Sufism, one of her pieces. She said the miniature was a replica of a work by Govardhan, an iconic miniature painter from the Mughal era. Aslam said she had tried to depict three women leading markedly different lifestyles in Hedgehog, another work of hers.

Tuba Ali, another artist, said she had worked with silver and gold leaves in Fear and Fantasy, one of her works. Ali said the tree in the work depicted fear while the moon (silver leaf) in the foreground and the sun (gold leaf) in the background portrayed fantasy.

Fresco practitioner Ustad Saifur Rehman said architects were still using traditional fresco techniques. They employ it for ornamental purposes if they are unable to use it extensively.

Ustad Khurshid Alam Gohar Qalam said the idea of art and beauty was peculiar to every individual. He said art had continued to remain relevant despite technological advancement.

Miniature painting tutor Rabia Ashraf said the quality of work had exceeded her expectations. Miniature painting tutor Sumaira Amin said it was heartening to see people from all walks of life excelling in miniature painting.

The organisers said the varsity has been offering the programme since 2008.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2015.