LAHORE CULTURAL DIARY: Russian exhibition of photographs

An interesting two-day exhibition of photographs cum seminar depicting visual history of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Russian Federations opened at Lahore Arts Council on June 15.
Entitled "History of Pak-Russian Diplomatic Relations", it was sponsored by the Association of Pakistan Graduates from Russian and CIS, in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute for World Peace.
It attracted the attention of those who are interested in fostering better relations, goodwill and mutual understanding between the two countries. Prominent participants in the workshop were Russian Ambassador Peskow and former Pakistani foreign minister Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali.
The Ambassador of Russian Federation said that the exhibition of photographs marked the beginning of a new chapter of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Former Pakistan Foreign Minister, in his presentation, affirmed that he had great respect for Russian civilisation, adding, that in his estimation, Lenin was one of the greatest leaders and political thinkers of the 20th century. Russian poets, artistes, writers and literati, who have contributed a lot to art and literature, have are created enduring impact on Pakistani readers and writers.
The exhibition contained shots of many meetings between the (then Soviet) Russian and Pakistani diplomats and political leaders. It also had a few shots of the Tashkent Declaration signed by Pakistan and India in January 1966.
The Hamail Art Gallery sponsored a 10-day exhibition of 50 paintings by artist Shafique Farooqi on June 15. Titled 'Whirling Derwish", the exhibition depicted the different evolutionary stages of divine love and involvement of people, through a combination of colours.
Among the attendees at the inauguration of the exhibition were prominent Pakistani artists of the likes of Saeed Akhter, Mehmoodul Hasan Roomi and Saeed Ahmed. Seemingly, Farooqi has been inspired by the history of Sufism and he has attempted to express his innermost self through different colours.
Jewellery designed by Kausar Humayun is currently on display at an exhibition at HSY's studios in Lahore, which will continue till June 22. After putting put up her first jewellery exhibition in the year 2002, Kausar has had several exhibitions on an annual basis. She tries to keep herself abreast with international trends through magazines and by attending world trade fares. The collection of 22 karet gold jewellery is set with coloured gem, stones and diamonds. Every piece seemed to have been the product of a creatively productive fertile mind.
At a local club, Dr Saad Malik delivered an interesting lecture, which had socio-cultural connotations. Entitled Marriages: Making and Sustaining Them, it focused on different aspects of marriage. Marriage, according to the speaker, was an important phase in the life of an individual and a decision about choosing a spouse should be made with extreme seriousness. The lecture was followed by a demonstration by the students of Dr Malik, of heated discussions over petty matters and how threats of separation or divorce are made, mostly by the husbands.
Not much progress seems to have been made towards the establishment of Lahore Arts Council's Alhamra University of Performing and Visual Arts. Major constraint or impediment, as is common in all government sponsored dream-like projects, is the lack of funds. The proposed university, when completed, will award certificates and degrees for intermediate, graduate and postgraduate courses.
So far, the site of the building of the university has not been selected. Two locations have been and still are under consideration, which include a place adjacent to the Open Air Culture Complex on Ferozepur Road, or at a 22-kanal plot in Shahdara, across the river Ravi.
Already the country's first Performing Arts Academy with four major departments - drama, film, music and dance, is in existence and is functioning at the Lahore Arts Council. The government of the Punjab sanctioned an initial grant of Rs 5.6 million to the Lahore Arts Council for the Academy.