Showcasing Pakistani talent in US
by RANA FAWAD

August 18, 2005

Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations this year in the United States included an art exhibition that started on Saturday and will continue for another 10 days on the Embassy's premises in Washington.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Gen (Retd) Jehangir Karamat inaugurated the exhibition. In his address on the occasion, he said the exhibition marked the beginning of an effort by the Embassy to highlight the remarkable wealth of talent, diversity and outlook of its people. "With its rich Indus and Gandhara civilizations, Pakistan epitomizes an amalgam full of colour and appeal," he said.

Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Sadiq told The Nation Plus that the exhibition was one of the events organised by the Embassy in order to improve Pakistan's image.

Works of 20 contemporary Pakistani artists from various parts of the country are being showcased in the exhibition. These include Altaf Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed, Mansrur Aye, Gulgee, Wasi Haider, Mnasoora Hassan, Abdul Hayee, Tapu Javeri, Aamir Kamal, Muhamamd Kazim, G N Qazi, Riaz Raffi, Mashkoor Raza, Nahid Raza, Jamshaid Tahir and Hussain Tariq.

The artists have used a variety of media including water colour, oil on sheet, oil on canvas, oil on board, mixed media, ink on sheet, etc.

Sadiq said the exhibition was organised in collaboration with Rising Leaders (RL), an organisation of second generation Pakistanis in the US. He appreciated the efforts of the young volunteers of the RL in putting this show together. He said RL was also helpful in arranging a discussion and the launching ceremony of books (After Terror: Promoting Dialogues Among Civilizations by Akbar S Ahmad and Brian Forst), Magnificent Mughals (by Zeenat Ziad) and the music album 'Infiniti' of Salman Ahmad of Junoon in connection with the Independence Day celebrations.

August 18, 2005