To showcase the ancient Japanese art form, Bonseki, a lecture and live demonstration on the subject were held on Oct 23.

The event was organised by the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan in collaboration with the Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore which was also its venue.

Midori Inomata, wife of Japanese ambassador in Pakistan Hiroshi Inomata, gave the lecture and live demonstration of Bonseki which was well attended and appreciated by the art fanciers.

Bonseki is a traditional Japanese art in which scenery of the four seasons is portrayed in miniature by placing natural stones on black lacquer trays, with various size and amounts of white sand used to add dimensions. Bonseki enjoyed great popularity in Japan during the Edo era (1603-1867).

Bonseki scenes often depict mountains, such as Mount Fuji, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, seashores, and gardens. Small stones are used to represent mountains, shore lines or rocky islands. Miniature structures, usually of painted copper, are sometimes added to the work to make houses, temples, bridges and the like.

Ms Midori Inomata, who has mastered this art over the years, captivated the attention of the viewers by skillfully demonstrating live the art of Bonseki. She has already demonstrated this art form at the National Art Gallery, Islamabad.

Ambassador Inomata, who was also present on the occasion, lauded his wife for introducing the ancient Japanese art of Bonseki to the Pakistani people. He said he was aware that Pakistani people knew Japan for its rapid progress in technological inventions and well-crafted animations, however, after witnessing this demonstration, they would also see a different aspect of Japan; its traditional art and beauty.

The ambassador said, “I am truly glad to be here in Lahore to host the Bonseki demonstration. It is always a pleasure to receive the hospitality and generosity of the Lahorites.

“I never get tired of experiencing the vitality and liveliness of this city and its people.”

He said the Japanese embassy had been continuously making efforts to showcase various Japanese traditional arts to the people of Pakistan over the years, adding that Japanese Ikebana, tea ceremony, woodblock printing, wadaiko drumming and now the art of Bonseki, are among them.

The Coopera Art Gallery on The Mall was the most happening place on Oct 22 where a fashion exhibition roped in a number of fashion gurus and fashion anciers. Formal and party outfits, designed by senior students of Coopera Art School, were on display. The Coopera Art Gallery has a subsidiary institute of fashion and the students who displayed their works in the exhibition were from the Fashion Designing Department of the institute.

The exhibition was aimed at promoting young fashion designers so that they could contribute to the growth of Pakistan fashion industry and to their professional careers too.

The exhibition was inaugurated by dress designer BG. Rana Muhammad Arshad, Parliamentary Secretary for Information & Culture, Punjab, and fashion designer Malik Zaheeb also visited exhibition. The designers who put on display their collection were Moon Rafique, Saira Sultan, Ambreen Bag, Amna Afzal, Ahmad, Zainab Afzal, Atiya Nafees, Seher Kainat, Saham, Shaheen, Jia, Mahnoor, Zunaira, Usma Malik, Noreen and Bilal Riaz. This exhibition ended on Saturday.

Singer Humaira Arshad enthralled audience at Royal Palm Golf and Country Club on Oct 22 by singing her famous numbers.

Fashion model Natty hosted the evening organized at the Royal Palm Lahore by J&S. The event was the setting for the launch of the leading international mosquito repellent brand in Pakistan.

Model Natty hosted the red carpet, while Humaira Arshad sang various numbers for the guests while they enjoyed their dinner.

An avant grade art show will grace Lahore’s cultural canvas on Thursday Oct 28. The show will feature women artists and artisans from various religious minorities.

The exhibition titled ‘The Making of Meaning’ is being organised by the National College of Arts and it would be inaugurated by Stavros Lambrinidis, EU special representative for human rights.

The art show will remain on display till Nov 4, 2014.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014