145 artists display their works

LAHORE:The second annual "Alhamra National Exhibition" organised by the Lahore Arts Council, opened Thursday at Alhamra Art Gallery, The Mall.

Provincial Law Minister Basharat Raja inaugurated the exhibition along with Alhamra Executive Director Athar Ali Khan. On the occasion, the minister said Lahore Arts Council was determined to support art and culture in pursuing excellence, representing the cultural roots and contemporary concerns of the people. Appreciating the LAC efforts for organising such events for the general public, he said, “I am happy to see the great artworks of participants of exhibition; I am thrilled to witness the diverse vision of artists regarding perception of society, culture, politics, social issues, art-making and various other genres of arts in their work.”

In this exhibition, more than 250 artworks of 145 artists from different regions of Pakistan are being displayed, but more than regional representation, it is the inclusion of wider strata, beyond the classification of class, training, age, experience, and style that makes this show an amazing event.

The exhibition brought a landscape of art and diversity in artworks. The displayed featured works was the great combination of veteran and senior artists like, distinguished artist Saeed Akhtar Sahab, RM Naeem, Mian Ejazul Hassan, Dr Ajaz Anwar, Shahid Jalal, Jamil Naqsh, Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi, Ali Kazim, Dr Rahat Naveed Masood, Dr Mussarat Hassan, Mehboob Ali, Ghulam Mustafa, Jamil Baloch, Akram Dost Baloch, Shahnawaz Zaidi and Amna Pataudi, along with emerging artists like, Minaa Haroon, Sana Durrani, Abrar Ahmed, Shahid Malik, Tayyaba Sabir and other from visual artwork placed their works on display.

Alhamra Executive Director Athar Ali Khan said the exhibition provided a platform for artistic youths to see the works of artists from all over Pakistan. Through these exhibitions, Lahore Arts Council strongly feels that it will encourage and nurture our emerging talent and pave path for them in continuation of their artistic practices. I would like to thank all the participating artists for sending their artworks from all over Pakistan for their valuable time and effort, he added.

Director Arts & Culture Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi while talking to the media said that the exhibition was a great initiative taken by Lahore Arts Council to promote and share the works of artists from all over Pakistan.