Dr Ajaz Anwar inaugurates the art show at GCU

Lahore: An exhibition of art works by eminent and emerging Old Ravian artists Thursday opened at the Minhas Art Gallery of the Government College University Lahore.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah and eminent Old Ravian artist Dr Ajaz Anwar inaugurated the art show that ideally exhibits chronology of changing trends, techniques, philosophy and use of technology in the field of fine arts, especially painting.  “GCU Minhas Art Gallery has brought the history of fine arts in Pakistan under one roof as this exhibition houses the classical paintings from 1960s to latest modern digital paintings of 2015.

Besides, art-lovers, this show is really significant for the academic learning of the students of fine arts,” said Ms Amna Anwar, a faculty member of GCU Fine Arts Department while talking to the media.

However, Old Ravian artist Haseeb Ullah Waqar believed that the latest technologies were killing invention and innovation in young artists who rather rely more on software applications than their personal abilities and imagination. He said computer could be fast but it could never compete with the mind of an artist.

GCU Quality Enhancement Cell Director Ms Iram Sohail termed the exhibition “a mini art world”, saying that it housed many kinds of art works including calligraphy, ceramics, oil painting, digital painting, graphic designing and photography. She said that every painting depicted a complete story. She admired the water colour paintings of GCU main building by distinguished painter Dr Ajaz Anwar.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ajaz Anwar said that the education of fine arts should be made compulsory as it gave the students motivational tools to unlock a deeper understanding of their education and of their life and also it would result in positive social outcomes. He lauded that the young artists were working on variety of subjects and mediums from oil paintings to ceramics. He proudly said he was the first student of fine arts at the Government College Lahore back in 1961 and Prof Aslam Minhas was his teacher.

Vice Chancellor Prof Hassan Amir Shah also appreciated the artwork of Old Ravians and hoped that it would motivate and inspire the young students.

Giving details of the exhibition, Erfan Ullah Babar, the Incharge of the GCU Fine Arts Department, said that they had this time proudly presented artworks of their 22 alumni which included the work of fine arts legends; Prof Ghazanfar Ali, Dr Shaukat Mahmood, Dr Ajaz Anwar and Prof Abid Hussian Qureshi besides of young Old Ravians including Jamil Hussain, Khalid Mahmood and Haseeb Ullah. He also said that the four-week exhibition was also part of the academic learning GCU current fine arts students, as critical discussions were held among students and faculty members on themes, colours, styles and methods of each painting and artwork during the exhibition.

Later, talking to media, GCU fine arts student Rida Butt that every painting had a feeling and expression and it took months to completely understand the philosophy of an art work. She said they got ideas and inspirations from the work of the seniors and also tried to put their innovation to it, as after all new knowledge was created out of the existing knowledge; one idea gave birth to another idea.

The exhibition also includes artworks by emerging artists; Zahir-u-Din babr, Tahir Ali Sadiq,  Imran Mudassar, Muhammad Sulaman, Bilal Jilani, Masood Khalid, Abdullah, Haroon Mughal, Jameel Hussain, Bilal Khalid, Moiz Ahmad, Naveed Amjad and Bilal Jaffary. The exhibition will remain open till October 16, 2015.