KARACHI, Aug 26: “Laila Shahzada was a sensitive, disturbed and powerful artist whose brush had immense flow and impact. I never came to know her personally but on reading this well-researched monograph on Laila Shahzada, I feel that I can see the person and begin to know her,” said Naeem Tahir, the key-note speaker at the launch of the book Laila Shahzada: Exploring an Inner Landscape by noted art critic Salwat Ali at Alliance Francaise on Friday.

“In the 58 years of our existence, we have been through some of the most intense emotional experiences and struggles that any nation could go through. These could be shattering, but we have picked up our pieces. We want to move forward,” said Naeem Tahir, director-general of the Pakistan National Council of Arts.

“The creative artists must leave behind more than their graves for they are the mirror of their times, the emotions, the aesthetic experience and the soul of the society. If 5,000 years ago an artist had not left for us the two figurines in the dance posture in Moenjodaro, we would not have understood the origin of classical dances, such as Kathak and Bharat Natyam,” opined Naeem Tahir.

Earlier, the author Salwat Ali said: “It was my endeavour to bring Laila Shahzada alive as a human being and as an artist. Through interviews with close friends and artists, who knew her intimately, as also on the basis of whatever text that was available on her, I was able to tabulate a chronology of her life and her work. Interwoven with anecdotes and incidents, the book traces Laila’s evolution as an artist through the times she lived in, till the moment of her tragic death in a gas explosion in her studio flat in Islamabad.”

The author expressed her gratitude to FOMMA (Foundation for Museum of Modern Art) and to its director general Jalaluddin and another trustee of FOMMA, Azra Jalal for encouraging her to attempt the book.

The book designed by Imran Mir is the third monograph brought out by the non-profit organisation, FOMMA, the first two were on Ali Imam and Zubeida Agha.

Jalaluddin Ahmed, who was recently awarded Pride of Performance for his work in promoting art in Pakistan, and earlier projecting art in the Islamic world during his long stay in the UK, said that due to the efforts of Abu Shamim Ariff, a barrack in the well maintained Zamzama Park, has been handed over to FOMMA for using it as an art club.

“This would be a useful rendezvous for the artiste community,” he said. Mr Jalaluddin hoped that a permanent place for setting up museum of modern art, promised by the DHA, would soon be handed over to FOMMA. He then announced a list of people who had joined hands for making the first ever museum of modern art in this country.

Ameena Saiyid of OUP, the co-publisher of the book, earlier welcomed the guests. —A.N.