For the sake of peace: Young artist spray paints her views on the Saudi-Yemen conflict

Humble Tariq believes Jinnah would never want us to engage in others’ conflicts

KARACHI:

A mural of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on the wall at Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) that shows the country emerging from the Indo-Pak subcontinent is a subtle message by a young artist that Pakistan should stay away from the Saudi-Yemen conflict.

Young artist Mishal Khan used green in her latest artwork to spread the Quaid's message of peace and unity. Khan is a student at the Karachi University's visual studies department and was working on a project by Abdoz Arts at the SMIU on Tuesday.



According to Abdoz founder Humble Tariq, the Father of the Nation would never want us to engage in others' conflicts. "Jinnah's message revolved around unity, love and peace," he said. "When this mural will be done, the students of SMIU will get to look at it every day. It conveys our Quaid's messages, which they will be reminded of when they see it every day."

"We are facing adversities from all sides these days," said Abdoz cofounder Umer Asim. "The aim of this artwork is to reawaken the spirit of patriotism and hope — the hope that someday everything will be fine. Our messages are anti-war. We uphold the values of peace and love."

According to Asim, the mural painting allowed the students of SMIU to engage with art and learn through it. "It feels really good when we conduct these kinds of activities," he said. "It allows students to come up with ideas and help us make better artworks with meaningful messages. This boosts our morale."

For him, being in the school from where Quaid-e-Azam studied brings a feeling of its own kind. "When Humble told me we will work at SMIU, I was totally thrilled," he said.

Mishal Khan, working for an Abdoz Arts project, painted a vivid mural depicting the Quaid on a wall of the Sindh Madressatul Islam University. Another inscription of the word ‘peace’ was painted beside it. PHOTO: AYSHA SALEEM/EXPRESS

Tariq agreed with him. "It was such a joy to paint the Quaid on the wall of the same school from where he studied."

Khan felt equally excited to paint Jinnah and said that it was an honour. "I feel really honoured that Abdoz Arts asked me to paint the Father of the Nation," she said. "He would never want us to participate in any conflicts. I am proud of us for giving messages of peace, love and unity to the students."

The students on the campus were quite happy to see the artwork being done.

"Can we please take a picture posing with the artwork?" asked a young boy accompanied by his friends. Tariq and Umer welcomed them with open arms and participated in their photo session. While Khan did not paint any direct messages related to the war in Yemen, the word 'peace' inscribed on the wall will be a message for generations to follow, even when the conflict is over. Moreover, it will always evoke patriotic feelings in all Pakistanis with the abundant use of the colour green and the detailed picture of the Quaid.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2015.