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October 13, 2005
All roads lead to Rome
There are many common and diverse attributes between Karachi and Rome, writes
Rumana Husain
“Thousands of years of history do not pass in vain; of course, they are a heavy burden to bear and, moreover, they represent something that constantly has to be reckoned with,” writes Mario de Candia in the ‘Roma Punto Uno’ catalogue. ‘Roma Punto Uno’ is an exhibition that was held in Karachi recently.
Even though a lot of commonness could be attributed to the two urban societies: the one on show and the one viewing it — the two big cities; Karachi (15 million people) and Rome (three million) — with their broad and narrow streets, old and new architecture, rich and poor people, their beauty and ugliness, their madness and conformity, their traffic, shopping centres, policemen and civilians –– there are a lot of things in them that are different and diverse.
The exhibition contains no less than one hundred and seventy contemporary works by seventy-one artists, mainly Italians. They draw, paint, photograph, sculpt and construct 18 x 24 cm ‘elements’ in which a somewhat surrealist portrait of Rome emerges. Extremely diverse and distinct in their styles, these artists focus on the contemporary sociological set-up of the city, presenting its different facets, through landscapes, still lives and abstract works.
The well-attended opening of the exhibition evoked many comments, suggestions, observations and interpretations. To some, the ‘Roma Punto Uno’ was an inspiration for organizing an exhibition with Karachi as its theme. The good, bad and ugly, the happy, sad and mundane profile of the huge metropolis would certainly provide a lot of scope for expression for creative individuals. In turn, it might provoke its people to reflect and contemplate, discuss and debate.
Just as the ‘Roma Punto Uno’ has started its journey from the East…from Seoul to Tokyo, Kyoto and now Karachi, going on to Kuala Lumpur…the ‘Hamara Karachi’ (sync) could begin its expedition from the West. Perhaps from Rome?
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