LAHORE: A rare exhibition of art and craft under the patronage of Mehmil, a home décor store, attracted a large number of art fanciers on its opening on Thursday at the O Studio on the Syed Marataib Ali Road in Gulberg.

Poet and bureaucrat Shoaib Bin Aziz has been working on the project along with his three daughters, Rida, Alina and Sundas.

“I have been working on this project for the last year and a half,” said Mr Aziz and added that the exhibition featured the skill and talent of the local artisans.

“We have experimented on different art and craft forms,” he said.

The exhibition has much to offer in terms of diversity and interesting ideas. Art objects such as ‘Frog doing Yoga,’ ‘Praying Buddha,’ ‘Cow Boys,’ ‘Stylised deer,’ ‘Hounds,’ ‘Copper Pots, cermiac works, original antique ship lights and many other such artworks gained attention of the visitors.

The artworks being exhibited are made of wood and metal besides antiques. The colour scheme of different artworks in certain cases is quite unusual and striking, for example a hound is wearing a greenish tone. Similarly, yellow roaring lion is an absolute treat to look at. The prices of artworks ranged from Rs200 to Rs150,000.

“The exhibition reflects diversity and shows what the people are doing in visual art. The show carries inspiration from different sources,” Salima Hashmi said.

To novelist Mustansar Hussain Tarar, the skill of art and craft needed to be given a shape which should be a contemporary one and according to the needs of present times. “With this art show, Mehmil had emerged as an institution which would remain a source of great benefit for the country because it is not only promoting heritage and culture but also the local artisans,” he added.

Architect Nayyar Ali Dada said it was the need of time to promote culture and craft. He lauded Mehmil for doing something new, hoping that it would flourish as such an institution was badly needed.

Film director Syed Noor was of the view that Shoaib Bin Aziz by putting on display such a beautiful collection of works had amazed many of his friends and colleagues.

Dr Sughra Sadaf, director general Punjab Institute of Language Art and Culture, was all praise for the displayed works, saying she knew Mr Aziz as a literary figure but the amazing collection of works he had put on exhibition showed his hidden talent.

Lahore Arts Council executive director retired Captain Atta Muhammad Khan and artist R M Naeem also spoke and lauded Mehmil and Shoaib Bin Aziz

The exhibition would remain on display till Jan 20.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2018