By GULZAR AFAQI
WEEKEND MAGAZINE (February 20, 2010): A showcase of vigor, energy and boldness coupled with skill, craftsmanship and aesthetic called 'Tamasha 2010', a multidimensional event held at Fast University would be remembered for a long time. Around 200 students from 30 universities of the country were offered opportunities to express their talent in a variety of artistic and cultural pursuits.
It included a wide range of competition in painting, essay writing, oratory, theatrical productions and other cultural expositions. The 3-day colourful 'Tamasha 2010' was inaugurated by Dr Aftab Maroof, director of the Fast University on February 13.
He said that the event was created to provide opportunity to students so they could show their talent and craftsmanship in a variety of areas of artistic and cultural accomplishments. Our students possess talent, confidence and will to express their inner self at any platform. What they need is the provision of proper opportunities.
The budding artists were given two-day time period to furnish their visual expression in any form of paintings on the following themes; 'Renaissance', 'Psychedelic', and 'Conceptual Art'. Around 18 participants endeavored hard in the discipline. In the segment of theatrical arts 16 groups were created to perform either in traditional way, 'Notanki' or today's 'street theatre'.
Each group was given 20 minutes time frame to accomplish its presentation on socio-cultural themes. In the category of miscellaneous cultural expression students were asked to present different socio-cultural events from our daily life particularly the colourful and melodious rituals of marital occasion.
In the oratory and bilingual declamation contest students were free to select any theme or topic out of given list with an obligation of a humorous presentation too. As far as the paintings accomplishments of the budding artists are concerned one could easily term those as 'wonderful'.
The socio-cultural themes they opted from the daily life testify the powerful sense of vigilance, observation and expression they possess. One could hope that our national institutions responsible for the promotion, projection and perpetuation of national culture and art would offer their generous patronage to these budding artists.
The students with theatrical arts too proved their talent and skills in conception, production and presentation of their respective skits and short theatrical expressions. The style of dialogue delivery, control over body movements and facial expression as per theme spoke the devotion, dedication and commitment of our young generation towards art.
The richness of colours of costume and relevant stage property was attractive and suited to the situation. The marital ritual of 'mehndi' or 'hina' stole the show due to its lively blend, colourful and musical presentation. The oratory and essay competition too registered good impression with regard to the clear perception of the participants, the standard of rationale and individualistic style in establishing one's point of view.
In the painting competition budding artists Aisha Kamal of National College of Arts won the first prize, Habib Akram from Punjab University grabbed the second while the team of same university adjudged as the best in the category of 'conceptual painting'. Shaista Zeb of NUML University stood first in Urdu essay writing competition while Muhammad Hasan of UET declared as the second and Hafiz Mudussar won the third position.
In English essay writing segment Furukh Zafar of PARC National University stood first while Waqqas Maqsood of Punjab University and Rabel Mustafa of FUMC got second and third position respectively. In English fiction writing segment Salmann Latif of PSED, Syed Shahbaz and Haroon Yasir of Beacon House System got first, second and third position respectively. The team of PAF Academy got the best prize in the declamation contest.
All the participants, teachers and parents were full of appreciation of Fast University management for providing the productive opportunity to the young generation for its expression of ideas, talent and skill. It is hoped that other contemporary educational institutions would also take such initiative for grooming the creative and innovative pursuits of our young generation. The cultural institutions of the country are also expected to lend their hand of patronage in the areas fall in their purview.
Imran Tahir: a promising future: Studio 5 is the venue of a wonderful display of paintings, and calligraphy created by Imran Tahir these days in Rawalpindi. Over 20 art pieces speak a volume of intellectual and artistic entity of the artist. Imran Tahir, under the able tutelage of eminent calligraphist Rashid Butt and painter Mahmood Ali learnt the sensibilities of the genres of calligraphy and painting.
He pays extra ordinary attention to the meanings of the letters to be calligraphed. ' The art of calligraphy demands a harmonious synthesis among different elements of meanings, geometric lyricism of letters, the special diction of colours and proportionate division of space,' commented the artist with regard to his creative pursuits. Most of the calligraphic work depicts Qur'anic verses in a variety of Kufi and Nastaaliq modes with charming colors and patterns. The landscape and cityscape paintings created by the artist are the true exponent of natural beauty and our socio-cultural ambiance. Imran has so far participated in several exhibitions. His art pieces have been part of several collections in the country. One could foresee a promising future for the artist.
Kamal Hayat's visual exposition: The Nomad Art Gallery has been the venue of an exhibition of paintings and drawings by an innovative painter, Kamal Hayat these days. Inaugurated on February 16 the event would continue till 25 instant. The viewer could enjoy a good number of acrylic paintings on paper, board and canvas. The overall texture of art pieces reflect fluidity, vibration and movement. The division of space and colour application is attractive and speaks the command of the artist over his intellectual and artistic tools.
With the passage of time and having expertise in his art Kamal has developed a unique style of his own. Most of his work could be termed as the recollection and revisiting of his past nostalgic reminiscent. He recalls events and reshape them according to his own aesthetic and artistic approach. Most of his visual characters seem alive engaged in conversation with each other.
Kamal Hayat enjoys good fortune as he got the distinctive tutelage of two of our great painters like Moeen Najmee and Khalid Iqbal in Lahore. Their teaching influenced Kamal in making him a painter with difference in content, style and technique. Kamal Hayat is indeed a painter with excellent approach towards the inter relationship of art and our socio-cultural life.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2010
