Consul General of Pakistan Abdul Salik Khan addresses a press conference at his office in Jeddah Wednesday. Also seen are Imran Ahmed Siddiqui (C), Deputy Consul General, and Sohail Ali Khan (L), Press Counsellor. — SG photo Mahmood Hasan Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH – Art lovers in the city are in for a treat. The Consulate General of Pakistan is bringing the tradition of its people in an exhibition titled “Turathuna” – Our Heritage — at the Ana Ghair Mall from Sept. 18 to 21. Artwork, including miniature art, traditional furniture and paintings of Islamic architecture, of around three dozen Pakistani artists would be on display. The consulate is organizing the exhibition under the auspices of Princess Jawaher Bint Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, who will inaugurate the exhibition Tuesday evening. “It will exhibit vibrant and distinctive features of Islamic art and crafts,” Consul General Abdul Salik Khan told a press conference at his office Wednesday. More than a dozen artists, whose works form the part of the exhibition, have already arrived in the Kingdom. They are: Abdul Razzaq, Ajab Khan, Mussarat Qudoos, Seemi Mirza, Sumaira Amin, Kausar Iqbal, Syed Najam ul Hassan Kazmi, Bukhsh Elahi, Muhammad Akram, Mehboob Ali, Muhammad Saleem and Rameez Imran. Mussarrat Nahid Imam, Director of Visual Arts, National Arts Gallery in Islamabad, is the curator of the exhibition. Works of Shafiq-uz-Zaman, the calligrapher to the Prophet's Mosque, and Muhammad Asghar Ali, who won the recently-held calligraphy contest in the Kingdom, would also be put on display. The consul general said the artists represent all the four provinces of Pakistan. “The purpose behind the exhibition is to build and strengthen Islam's image among people of all faiths, and promote cultural ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” he said. “It is in fact a continuation of the calligraphic exhibition, which was held in Jeddah last year. Such events are being planned to show the true image of Islam to people of all faiths,” Abdul Salik said. The exhibition the consul general mentioned displayed Qur'anic calligraphy under the banner “Alla'ma bil Qalam”. It was organized by the consulate in October last year. Works of award winning Pakistani calligraphers were displayed at the show. More than 4,000 people visited that exhibition, while there were more than 60,000 hits on the exhibition's website. There have already been more than 37,000 hits on “Turathuna” exhibition website. Encouraged by the response that exhibition generated and to introduce calligraphy by Pakistani artists to Arabic- and English-speaking audience the consulate is publishing a book under the title “Alla'ma bil Qalam”. Darussalam is printing the book, which will be launched in the first week of October in Makkah, the consul general said. The brain behind the exhibitions is Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Deputy Consul General, who himself is a painter. The consulate's initiative this year is being supported by Tamer Group, Fuchs, Hyundai and Hidada Steel. Those interested can visit the exhibition between 10 A.M. and 1.30 P.M. and between 5 P.M. to 11 P.M. at Ana Ghair Mall. The map of the venue and more details about the exhibition itself are available at www.expoturathuna.com.
