LAHORE: A Tribute to Lahore- an exhibition of paintings by renowned artist Dr Ejaz Anwar opened at the Contemporary Art Gallery of Lahore Museum after a gap of decades.
The museum hosted group exhibitions in the past. However, it is unprecedented that a solo exhibition of an artist is organised in the museum. The exhibition showcases art pieces that show Lahore in its old glory and colours. Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) organised the exhibition with the Lahore Museum. The exhibition is part of a series of activities that were planned in connection with celebrating Lahore as the capital of Islamic architecture.
A number of people, including senior artists and art enthusiasts showed up at the exhibition. Former secretary information, culture and youth affairs, Orya Maqbool Jan speaking on the occasion said Lahore was a city with a maximum of variations and colours. “You name any art, and see its there in Lahore,” he said. He however lamented that the historical glory of the city was not being protected and many monuments of civilisation had diminished. He said the great nations of the world preserved their culture and history and that was what we needed to do. Ministry of Culture Additional Secretary Akram Shaeedi, PNCA Executive Director Tauqeer Nasir and Asgher Nadeem Syed also spoke on the occasion.
Preserve historical sites: Dr Ejaz, on the occasion, said three years back on the same day his exhibition opened at the Tollinton Maket. He said at that time the then CM had announced to declare the market ‘protected monument’ but it had not been done so far. “I request the CM to declare Tollinton Market a protected monument,” he said. He said that he had left to go to many old sites of the city as it pained him to see the glory of the city diminishing. The paintings put on display are watercolor paintings. The mastery of a skillful artist is evident from the work. The paintings show Lahore from the artist’ eye. The paintings have in a way preserved the history of Lahore through his painting, a viewer said.
