KARACHI: A book titled A Beautiful Despair — The Art and Life of Meher Afroz conceptualised and edited by Niilofur Farrukh was launched online on Saturday evening. The book examines distinguished artist Meher Afroz’s practice from the time when she appeared on the art scene in the 1970s.

A webinar was part of the launch in which art historian Savita Apte was in conversation with Ms Farrukh and Ms Afroz. She put the first question to the editor of the book asking how her relationship with Ms Afroz helped or hindered in putting together the published work. Ms Farrukh said it’s an advantage to know the context and to absorb all the facets of the artist. “There are many things that I learned from Meher. She’s been a mentor to me. I know when Meher’s work is in transition. If you see some random work coming into the gallery, if she’s between exhibitions, you know that she’s moving towards something totally new. Since I’m familiar with her pattern, I’ve been able to grasp that change. It’s been such a privilege knowing her for so many years.”

On the subject of the order of the essays in the book working towards decolonisation, Ms Farrukh said in the last five decades since she’s seen Ms Afroz’s work, the artist has touched upon a lot of issues which are connected to our culture but often get eclipsed: the language we speak in, the cultural gatherings we have, values and spirituality.

The question that Ms Apte first put to Ms Afroz was her connection with the city of her birth, Lucknow, and how that has an impact on her as an artist. Ms Afroz said she was born in a very traditional family. When she grew up her daadi and naani were there. Both had their own ‘specialties’. The naani was a great craftswoman (stitching, sewing etc) while the daadi was a strict disciplinarian. And the language and poetry… all of that could not be escaped. Everyone was exposed to that culture.

With reference to the last part, poetry, the artist mentioned a poem of Jaun Elia that she’s used for her work and the circumstances in which the poem was written.

Ms Afroz said the role of an artist has remained the same from the beginning. Every creative person should be honest and knowledgeable. An artist can’t be a preacher or leader. His or her responsibility is that whatever s/he is trying to portray through art must be honest and committed. “If you are honest and know what’s happening around you, then the message in your work will go across.”

At that point Ms Farrukh added that in the 73 years of Pakistan’s existence we’ve seen a lot of upheavals. Different cultures have come along with the changes that have taken place. With all this happening, artists, poets and writers are challenged. They are looking at ways to understand those changes. It is quite different to a society that hasn’t faced such crises. And that does come into play [in Afroz’s work].

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2020