KARACHI, Nov 25: A two-day seminar of the Pakistan chapter of the Paris-based body of art critics, Association of International Critics of Arts (AICA), with delegates from Pakistan and 10 other countries, opened
in the Aga Khan Hospital auditorium on Thursday.
The hallmark of the seminar were thought-provoking discussions that followed at the end of the two sessions, 'Globalization of Art', which was presided over by Angelika Baueumer from Austria, and 'Strategies in Art Criticism', presided over by Meyric Hughes, the president of AICA International.
This is also the first time that a seminar on international art, with such wide participation, is being held in Pakistan. When the opening session began, it was announced that journalist and art critic Sultan Ahmed, who was supposed to be the chief guest at the session, was unwell and would not be able to make it.
Dr Rasheed Araeen, the key-note speaker, came from London to take part in the seminar despite his frail health. He is the editor of the prestigious art journal Third Text. In appreciation of his services to art, the University of Southampton conferred an honorary doctorate of letters on him.
Dr Araeen said South Asian art had its own roots and it should not be compared with the art of Europe or any other region. Art critics should scrutinize things on the basis of specific environment, condition and era in which such artwork has created.
"The shifting foundations of socio-political structures have created a new intellectual space for the art critic to work in. As the interpreter, arbiter and activists in societies are confronted with the effects of globalization, the art critic becomes the cartographer of new cultural map," said Dr Araeen.
He said isometric map of the dynamic post-modern matrix had made visible cultures previously located on the periphery and in Pakistan and rest of South Asia the most significant issue to confront art critic had been post-colonial cultural continuity.
"Critical methodology in arts is profound understanding and interrelationship of layers of specific art piece," he noted. Earlier, in her welcome address the president AICA Pakistan, Nilofur Farrukh, stressed the need for involvement of academia, journalists, cultural centres run by consulates of different countries and other fellow professionals to promote art criticism as an integral part of national socio-cultural scholarship of Pakistan.
Founding President AICA Jalaluddin Ahmed, president of AICA International Meyric Hughes, and AICA Secretary Amra Ali also spoke on the occasion while delegates from South Asian countries, cultural centres of various consulates, arts students and others attended the seminar.
Mr Hughes also said that he was happy with the effort put in by the organizers and he was very impressed by the quality and quantity of participation. He added: "This is a very opportune moment for holding this seminar because due to to globalization art has changed its character and direction."
Affiliated to Unesco, AICA operates in 74 countries, and it was formed in 1949. Pakistan became its member a year later but after a few years the Pakistan chapter became dormant.
Thanks to the efforts of the founding president, Jalaluddin Ahmed, the body became active and its links with AICA International were re-established. The second day's session will have presentations and discussions on 'Art Criticism and the Nation' in the morning, while the late morning session will be on 'Urban Energies', which will have speeches by Kamil Khan Mumtaz, Samina Shah and Dr Alka Pande from India.
Roland D'Souza will be charing the session. The final session on 'SAARC Art - a shared legacy', which will have great sub-continental participation, is expected to evoke greater interests among the guests, who comprise art students, art teachers, artists, architects, art collectors, and art writers.
