ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday criticised United States President Donald Trump for sitting over enormous resources but doing nothing about climate change.

“In comparison I have very little, but I acknowledge climate change as a threat,” Dr Alvi said at the opening of an exhibition titled Art for Climate Change at the Pakistan National Council of Arts.

The exhibition was the outcome of the Art for Climate Change retreat organised by Gallery 6 in collaboration with the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation where 16 painters, photographers and filmmakers were invited to Naran in August.

The president informed guests that the artists’ works were expected to draw attention by all possible means to the impending threats of frequent and severe natural disasters, food and water shortages, agricultural and economic collapse and so on.

He lamented that pristine settings such as Hunza and Fairy Meadows were losing their splendour and turning into concrete jungles like Murree and Karachi.

“The lack of awareness about climate change and its impact remains a challenge,” Dr Alvi said.

PNCA Director General Jamal Shah said the exhibited works would provide critical insight through creativity.

“Art helps in making informed decision-makers. It allows one to become brave, sincere, responsible and productive, and lovers of their surroundings and give life aesthetic dimensions,” Mr Shah said.

He urged the president for state patronage, which visual and performing artists never had.

Gallery6 owner Dr Arjumand Faisel appreciated the president for taking time out for the art show, which he believed reflected the government prioritising problems caused by global warming.

“We hope the show will attract individuals, organisations and media to create a sense of urgency to save the environment,” Dr Faisel said.

The show was spread across two galleries and featured a collection of paintings in mixed media, as well as photographs and installations.

Ajab Khan contributed landscapes to the show.

“I draw attention towards the serenity and beauty of our landscapes. It hurts me to see how we are responsible for its degeneration,” he told visitors.

National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore graduate Sana Arjumand’s painting titled ‘Overlapping Dimensions’ depicted internal darkness affecting the perfect vision of the outside landscape. Breathtaking landscapes in watercolour were painted by Ali Sajid.

“I work hard to heighten the splendour of our beautiful landscape,” Mr Sajid said.

Among other artists were Ali Ijaz, Kiran Saleem, and Irfan Gul Dahri. Amna Yaseen contributed photographs that highlighted the degradation of pristine landscapes, while Asad Asghar, Mohammad Arshad, Mohammad Tariq, Sujjal Kayani and S.M. Khayam presented their landscape paintings for the show.

The exhibition will continue until Dec 30.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2018