June 27, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 22, 1429

KARACHI, June 26: A very unusual art exhibition was inaugurated by the French Consul-General at the Alliance Francaise on Thursday, where works of budding artists, who are inmates of the Karachi Central Jail, were put up on display. Thanks to their art teacher Sikandar Ali, these jailbirds found a pair of wings which helped them soar up in the air.

There are pencil sketches and paintings in oils and water colours, but the subjects are understandably quite poignant in most cases. Sketches of the children they have left behind, high walls that cannot be scaled, men with nooses around their necks and the houses where their family members are living without them are all over.

The most poignant picture shows a hand holding a replica of the artist’s house and the building of the Karachi Central Jail in the foreground. The captain is just as wistful. The religious among them have done pieces of calligraphy.

Still life is another popular subject and here again chains, shackles and handcuffs are quite prominent.

The artworks are all reasonably priced. Most of them are between Rs1,000 and Rs2,000. Forty out of the 150 paintings and pencil sketches (all on paper) were sold in one hour. The consul-general said that the gallery will not charge commission and the artists will be paid the sum.

Tutor Sikandar Ali said that he is himself astonished to find that the level of talent and the desire to excel are pretty high. “They love to give vent to their feelings,” he revealed.

Nusrat Mangan, Superintendent of the Karachi Central Jail, who had held a similar show on the jail premises, said that the art material was all supplied by friends. He preferred not to reveal their identities. “We didn’t ask the government to finance the efforts,” he added.

Answering a question why women inmates were not given the opportunity to learn sketching and painting, the IG Prisons Mr Yamin Khan said that the women, who number much less than men, are learning embroidery, tailoring and some crafts and they are doing very well.

“The idea is to rehabilitate both men and women once their terms are over,” said the IG.

Ziaullah, one of the former inmates, is a case in point. He was released on bail four years after he had been imprisoned on what he called trumped up charges of transporting narcotics.

He is now trying to earn his living through his paintings and sketches. His works proved to be better sellers and he had contributed almost 25 per cent sketches and paintings to the show. Full marks to the Alliance for holding the show. Sadly, the exhibition, which started on Thursday, will only be open for viewing on Friday.

One would like it to be extended for one more day so that those who find time on weekends can experience the genuine portrayal of the feelings of men who are locked up inside the Karachi Central Jail, but whose spirits remain unchained.