LAHORE, Feb 12: The 27th annual exhibition of paintings, sculpture and graphic arts opened at Alhamra Art Gallery, The Mall, on Tuesday.

The exhibition, organised by the Punjab Artists Association with the Lahore Arts Council, was inaugurated by Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood.

Mr Mehmood said his father, Makhdoom Hasan Mehmood, was an artist and noted painter Ali Imam used to teach him art. “I have seen canvases and paintings in my house since my childhood,” he said.

He said due to mismanagement in the country many difficulties were being faced by the people. Politicians need to understand that good governance means good politics.

Punjab Artists Association President Mian Ejazul Hasan underlined the need to expand cultural activities to districts and towns specially that of Fine Arts. He said cultural activities had been restricted to Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi.

He said artists were faced with a unique challenge as our entire neighborhood was deluged with happenings such as blood, gunpowder smoke, bloody violence, suicide bombings and gross rampaging intolerance. He said old established world was dying; new ideas were sprouting. “Who else can define this moment better than our own artists?” he asked the audience.

“We must grasp this moment, not let it slip out of our fist,” he said.

Former College of Art and Design Principal Shahnawaz Zaidi said artists were the major source of beauty in the world as they spread peace and beauty through their art. He said the government was not interested in buying art collections for its major cultural bodies such as arts councils.

Zaidi’s successor Rahat Navid Masood said Pakistani artists had stood up to challenges and were portraying true picture of the country through their art. She said Pakistani art was both modern and traditional. She urged the need to motivate arts councils to promote Fine Arts.

Up to 133 artists are showcasing their 200 works in the exhibition. Prominent artists whose works are on display include Khalid Iqbal, Mian Ijazul Hasan, Rahat Naveed Masud, Shahnawaz Zaidi, Shahid Jalal, Kehkashan Jafri, Mehboob Ali and Munawar Mohyuddin.

The exhibition will remain on till Feb 20.

group show: A group show of paintings titled ‘Art – a new approach’ by four artists opened at the Ejaz Art Gallery on Tuesday.

The artists whose work is on display includes Dua Abbas, Ali Mansur, Sarah Hashmi and Scheherezade Junejo.

Dua’s works are a continuation of her portrayal of women as both storytellers and protagonists.

The paintings have underlying allegorical meaning. She depicts two girls who seemed to have dug holes in the earth to bury and hide their books in but watering them too so good thoughts could grow. The concept is based on the idea how society still suspiciously regards the girls who read books, especially poetry and fiction.

Scheherezade Junejo’s works are also worth appreciating. Ali Mansur painted flesh men covered with different temperatures of colours given by light.

The artist says such paintings allowed him to create a personal space.

Sara Hashmi’s works deals with a quiet distance and rigidity between relationships that built up over time and created an uncomfortable silence.

The exhibition will run until Feb 19.