LAHORE: For the first time, a comprehensive publication, featuring milestone visual art exhibitions held at the historical Alhamra Art Gallery during the last seven decades is being compiled which will document all the artists and exhibitions held during the history of the gallery.

For quite a long time, there was a need to print a catalogue on the gallery, carrying not only the milestone exhibitions held here but also to document its historical significance, says Mina Haroon, the assistant director of the Alhamra Art Gallery, while talking to Dawn.

The gallery boasts of a distinguished history spanning over seven decades, hosting numerous remarkable exhibitions throughout its existence. In an era when Lahore lacked adequate artistic venues, this gallery served as a crucial platform for artists, she adds.

“To honour the achievements of Pakistani artists, it has become essential for the council to produce a publication that commemorates these exceptional exhibitions and pays tributes to the nation’s visual artists community,” stresses Ms Haroon and says that for the specific publication, the Lahore Arts Council (LAC) will undertake the task of thoroughly documenting and archiving the artists who have displayed their artworks at the gallery.

LAC Board of Governors member and noted artist/educationist Salima Hashmi has also endorsed the idea, saying documenting the historical significance of Alhamra Art Gallery is immensely important and there should be a proper catalogue on it. She says there have been many landmark exhibitions by leading visual artists of the country at this gallery and this record should be documented at the earliest.

Ms Haroon throws light on the historical significance of the gallery and the great artists who have exhibited their works at the gallery, saying the institution’s inauguration took place with an exhibition of artworks by Abdur Rehman Chughtai in 1949.

According to her, by the end of 1952, another major event at Alhamra was the exhibition of Ustad Allah Bux’s works, followed by the exhibition of Safdar Ali and Anwar Jalal Shemza in the early 1953. The works of American watercolor artists, named Winslow Homer, Edward Hooper, Maurice Prendergast, John Marin and Andrew Wyeth, were displayed before the construction of the existing building. In 1967, the painting exhibition of Mortaza Bashir and Novera Ahmed was a significant event at the council. Both these painters had exhibited their works at the gallery even before the construction of the existing building of the gallery. Solo exhibition of Javaid Iqbal Geoffrey was in 1964, Ahmed Pervaiz in 1965 and 1966, Colin David in 1966 while the same year Zahoorul Akhlaq exhibited his works at the council. In 1968, five prominent artists of Pakistan, Ali Imam, Sadequain, Abdur Rehman Chughtai, Mian Ijazul Hassan and Haji Muhammad Sharif, exhibited their works in solo exhibitions at the council. In 1984, the construction of the art gallery was completed and the First Biennale Photography by the Pakistan National Council of Arts, Islamabad, was exhibited. Professor Salima Hashmi and Naazish Attaullah displayed their paintings in the gallery in 1987 and later in the year, Shahid Jalal brought his works for the public to the gallery.

The Alhamra Art Gallery is the one that hosted the first art Biennial Exhibition in Pakistan. First, there was a competition on January 14, 1988, and then on January 16, 1988, artists exhibited their works. Local artists and the artists from different countries like India, Bangladesh, Iran, Libya, and Turkey participated in competitions and exhibitions. In April 1990, renowned Indian painter M.F. Husain showed his works.

In 1993, Alhamra organised the Alhamra Young Artists’ Exhibition and competition to give a platform to young artists to show their work and it had been happening for the last 19 years. The artists are given encouragement through cash prizes to support the young generation. More than 300 artists participate in this exhibition every year and it has become one of the most awaited exhibitions in the country.

Damien Hirst’s work was displayed at the Alhamra in 1997, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Alhamra. The works of Ismail Gulgee, known for Islamic calligraphy, painting and sculptures, were exhibited at gallery in 2011. Quddus Mirza has curated a number of exhibitions, including “One to One” at the gallery.

In November 2018, the First Alhamra National Exhibition was inaugurated at Alhamra Arts Council. The exhibition displayed more than 250 artworks by 136 artists across the country, including Saeed Akhtar, Mian Ijazul Hassan, Dr Ijaz, Shahid Jalal, Huma Mulji, Ali Kazim, Dr Rahat Naveed Masud, Dr Mussarat Hassan, Mehboob Ali, Ghulam Mustafa, Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi, Jamil Baloch, Aisha Jatoi, Shahnawaz Zaidi, Amna Pataudi, Quddus Mirza and R.M. Naeem, along with the artworks by emerging artists.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2023