Pigeons and a slice of light

The collection of forty-one paintings, rendered in oil on canvas by incomparable JAMIL NAQSH were displayed at Momart Gallery, and Book named ‘Pigeons and a slice of light’ was also launched. Book is about Naqsh’s most recent painting with a beautiful introduction “Myths and Memories: An Artist’s Inspiration” written by our finest art critic Marjorie Husain.

The painting at display are just breath taking, the colors and the usual rendering of pigeons in various positions is astonishing. All paintings with a singular subject are very different and engaging. Use of various textures shows the command that Naqsh has on his medium.

Karachi Literature Festival

Karachi hosted a grand Literature Festival which was organized by British Council and Oxford University Press on 20th and 21st March at Carlton Hotel. I had an opportunity of attending three sessions on 21st March. First was A TRIBUTE TO QURATULAIN HYDERN,

second was DISCUSSION ON WORLD OF URDU SHORT STORIES

and third SUFISM AND LITERATURE.

Personally I liked the panel discussion on Sufism and Literature although Amar Jaleel a renowned writer whose name was on the panel could not attend, still others conducted it well but Fehmida Raiz stole the show while rendering her translation of Rumi is a very beautiful style.

More of such festivals are certainly required in Karachi where these days the only entertainment with Karachiites is eating out.

Today's Dawn with Arman

Please see Daily Dawn's magazine IMAGES today, which has a wonderful article on Waheed Murad's glorious movie ARMAN. The article is written by the most talented, stylish and eminent scholar KHURRAM ALI SHAFIQUE.

Challenging Life

The picture is a bit murky it was taken while I was going back to home in the beautiful coastal city and the twilight had just set in. The scene is not unfamiliar, a bus and on all around and on top of bus people riding their luck while taking huge risk and hazard. I referred to the web dictionary to find what risk and hazard means to which I found this:

” hazard: a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune; "drinking alcohol is a health hazard"

I think , since drinking alcohol is not a cultural norm of the civic metro hence people take a chance with sitting on the bus top or hanging from all sides, a huge possibility. Then some lines of poem read long ago resonated in the ears which sounded the true spirit of the bravery to which we are daily witness on the streets:

“We all tend to play it safe once in a while.
I had been playing it safe for a long time
and ultimately no longer had a life!”

So, this is a life, playing it while setting aside the safety,or if put in right words its Challenging Life.