LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre has announced the launch of two awards for theatre and performing artists to commemorate the memory of Ajoka’s veteran actor Arshad Durrani.

The annual awards have been set up in collaboration with the Shahkaar Higher Education Hub, run by Arshad Durrani’s daughter and prominent painter Sumaya Durrani.

The awards were announced at a memorial meeting held to mark the second death anniversary of the late Arshad Durrani. The meeting was chaired by Ajoka’s chairperson Zara Salman and attended by Ajoka members, friends of Arshad Durrani and students of Ajoka Institute’s acting class.

Tributes were paid to Mr Durrani for his undying commitment to theatre. Co-actors shared memories of his passion and will power to keep performing even despite illness and old age. A short documentary on Mr Durrani was also screened.

Ajoka Executive Director Shahid Nadeem said that a selection committee consisting of eminent theatre personalities would select two recipients and an awards ceremony would be held in December. The award will include cash prize and a shield.

He also thanked Mr Durrani’s daughter for providing support for the annual awards. The Shahkaar Arshad Durrani Award for Excellence in Theatre will be given to theatre artists for their contribution to theatre for social change including actors, playwrights and practitioners.

The Shahkaar Award ‘Against All Odds’ will be given to the artists who have continued their work defying old age, illness or trauma. The Ajoka chairperson invited theatre practitioners, groups and supporters to send their nominations to the selection committee through email or Whatsapp with supporting information by 11 Dec.

EXHIBITION: A group show of landscape paintings titled ‘Phenomenal Treat’ by 20 artists, both emerging and seasoned, opened at Ejaz Art Gallery on Saturday.

The exhibition has some 60 or so artworks. The artists beautifully depict the Mother Nature and the feelings and emotions in the paintings are punctuated by the influences of history, socio-economic factors, society and culture.

Many artists assert humanistic approach as manifesting visual reality whereas, there are a few who are directed by their epiphany and have gone into sublimation by creating art through their impulses. Symbolism has not been ignored while spiritual and expressionist glories are effectively displayed.

Some of the senior artists whose work on display include Abid Khan, Asim Amjad, Dr Khalid Mehmud, Faheem Baloch, Masooma Abbas, Raja Najmul Hassan and Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi.

The exhibition will exhibition will continue till Dec 7.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2020