Paintings of Walled City gates displayed

LAHORE

A solo exhibition featuring large-size landscape paintings of 13 gates of the Walled City from Lahori Gate to Roshni Gate was inaugurated at the Minhas Art Gallery of Government College University (GCU) on Thursday.

Painter, writer and art critic Mian Ijaz ul Hassan inaugurated the Mohiuddin’s solo show saying: “Without its heritage, it would no more Lahore and we, the artist community, wanted the government to understand this.” He said they welcomed the development but it should not be at the cost of heritage.

Hassan, who is also Old Ravian, said most of these gates didn’t exist anymore, and the artist had recreated them on the basis of their description in the historical books and documents. “These thirteen gates were brands of ancient Lahore and Munawar Mohiuddin has made them eternal through his artwork,” he added.

Hassan said the government should seek inspiration from Mohiuddin’s work and should restore these old gates.

Javaid Iqbal, a renowned cartoonist, said these oil paintings were vibrant in impression and they didn't only reveal the beautiful architecture of these gates but also the energetic life around these gates.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah said every single gate of Old Lahore had its own history and significance, adding that this show was a contribution to promote and save the majestic heritage of Lahore in form of paintings. He said unfortunately most of their young generation didn't know the names of all these 13 gates.

GCU Fine Arts Department Chairperson Erfan Ullah Babar said Mohiuddin was virtuoso on oil painting techniques and his short, thick strokes of paint swiftly capture the soul of the subject, rather than its details. “Colours are applied side-by-side with as little mixing as possible, as used by the impressionist,” he said.

Talking about his artwork, Munawar Mohiuddin says that he has been living in Lahore for the last 30 years and the Walled City and its architecture fascinate him more than anything else. He said that heritage had a language of its own, and it communicates with the observer.