KARACHI: The Arts Council of Pakistan is organising a three-day art exhibition from Friday (today) proceeds of which will go to relief efforts for the flood affected people. A total of 50 paintings and 10 sculptures have been donated by prominent collectors and artists for the cause.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday evening, the council’s president, Ahmed Shah, said that in 2005 when a devastating earthquake hit the northern parts of Pakistan, the Arts Council Karachi took a similar initiative. In 2010, when Sindh was affected by flash floods, the cultural space played its part in alleviating the sufferings of fellow countrymen. This time around, the situation is worse than before, and our brethren need us. “It’s been more than a month when the council started its relief activities for which we talked to our friends and members; the council itself donated Rs20 million towards the initiative from its own account. Then we sent out ration to the affected areas followed by adopting two camps. A week ago, we took another responsibility: all the artists and arts councils in Sindh are being supplied with dry ration.”

Principal of the council’s art institute Shahid Rassam highlighted another reason for holding the exhibition. He said recently discussions about artists being ‘heartless’ raged on social media, whereas history tells us that whenever society is confronted with such difficult times, artists have played their part wholeheartedly. “This show is proof of the fact. There are individuals who have given artworks from their personal collections, which usually doesn’t happen. They would give you money but seldom works from their collection. For example, we have a painting by Satish Gujral and one by Tasadduq Sohail. Also, the exhibition is the revival of the Ahmed Pervez Gallery [in a new space] at the council.”

Mr Shah informed the media that the exhibition will open at 5pm. It is a unique show because it is for the first time that painters and sculptors from all across Pakistan have donated their artworks to such a cause, and not one of them charged a single penny for it. They include masters, contemporary artists as well as donors.

“We have two sketches made by the legendary Sadequain on display. All the income generated from the sales will go to the flood relief efforts.”

He briefly talked about a musical concert with the same purpose, too, which is going to be held on Oct 2 at Karachi Gymkhana, participated by the likes of Asim Azhar, Aima Baig and Natasha Baig.

The curator of the show Muhammad Zeeshan said as an artist he has always thought about what artists can do to return to those whom we know or don’t know because all of us together constitute a society.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2022