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the-south-asian.com                           September  2000

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Page  2 of  3

ART GALLERIES IN PAKISTAN

by

Niilofur Farrukh

One of Sadequain's works

A new trend in Karachi takes art to the diner-cafes. The Cafe Blue exhibits mostly experimental art. Besides commercial spaces there are three permanent galleries in Karachi. The Fayzee Rahamin Gallery is dedicated to this outstanding portraitist. Its new building, on the plot donated to the city by Attiya and Fayzee Rahamin is scheduled to open its doors soon to visitors.

Gallerie Sadequain with its majestic ceiling by the master painter dominates the first floor interior of this neo-gothic building of the colonial era. Calligraphic paintings on Marble slabs by Sadequain can also be viewed here. These two galleries have been gifted to the metropolis by Karachi Municipal Corporation. Mr Grami, the guiding spirit behind these projects has recently initiated an expansion of the Fayzee Rahamin Gallery into a cultural complex to accommodate a theatre, gallery ,library and small auditorium.
The Fine Arts Committee 2000, has put in some efforts to revitalize the Arts Council Gallery space with a few good exhibitions. The A R Faridi Permanent Collection at the Karachi Arts Council houses paintings of master painters since the early 1950's. It is probably one of the few galleries that can boast of early modernist paintings by East Pakistani painters such as Kibria, Murtaza Bashir, Mustafa, Aminul Islam and Jehangir. It also has rare works of Hanjra, Zubeida Agha, Shemza and an absolutely delightful large painting of Ahmed Perwaz.

Lahore, home to the century old Mayo School of Art now National College of Art, and the Punjab University's Fine Arts Department, established more than half a century by the dynamic expressionist Anna Molka Ahmed, has somehow failed to develop the modern gallery culture and has slowly lost its reputation as the city of art patrons established by the Mughals and Sikhs. The longest running commercial art gallery is the Lahore Art Gallery run by Shehla Saigol. Located in few rooms in the wing of a large house, it is at its active best around exhibitions because visitors have found it semi-deserted without a professional staff to answer queries. Earlier attempts to establish Nairung Gallery by architect Nayyer Ali Dada could not sustain it due to  lack of patronage.

'The sale of art did pick up in the 80's, but from informal outlets such as  furniture shops' informs architect Naeem Pasha. Perhaps this had less to do with  discerning collectors and more with looking at art as an interior design accessory.
Painter Iqbal Hussain runs cafe Coco's, in the shadow of the Lahore Fort where his works forms an important part of the ambience. The work of the artist can also be acquired from here.

In the last year or so a few commercial galleries are trying to cater to the new art market. ‘The Croweaters’ managed by Nayab, in an old commercial building that belongs to the family of the celebrated writer Bapsi Siddhwa. While some enjoy the ambience of the place they find its space cramped for the display of larger works. In recent months a few new galleries have come up, with Ejaz Gallery particularly active.

National College of Arts a few years ago decided to bring contemporary art to its campus by opening its own gallery. Since its inauguration it has held several shows.

The home of pioneer modernist Shakir Ali, has been turned into an art museum where his oeuvre and belongings are on display. This gallery also hosts shows of younger modernists. The Chughtai Museum has a spectacular collection of watercolours and etchings by the great master. The artist's son runs this private museum and a viewing can be arranged by appointment. Besides these showplaces the Al-Hamra, Lahore Arts Council, from time to time holds exhibitions of local and visiting artists. It is also the venue of the Annul Show of the Artists Association of Punjab. Recently a permanent art gallery was established in its environs.

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