TORONTO, Sept 16: An international exhibition to honour the late artist Zahoorul Akhlaq opened this weekend in the presence of hundreds of art connoisseurs in Mississauga, three kilometres west of Toronto.

Zahoor who had settled in Canada, and his daughter Jahan Ara, a classical dancing star, were gunned down in Lahore nearly four years ago when they were on a visit to their native country.

Paintings of over 70 renowned artists from across the world are part of the exhibition which will continue till October 26.

Zahoor painted ‘Takhtis’ which are being exhibited at the Mississauga event. He often used the wooden writing tablet as a surface to paint. Zahoor taught in Canada at the Ontario College of Arts and Design as well as in the United States and Europe.

The exhibition is entitled ‘Laal’ (red) chosen to describe the extra-ordinary life and work of Zahoor.