Postcards from Pakistan

Manju Ramanan / TNN / Oct 30, 2005, 20:18 IST

Share

AA

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

'Artists on both sides are working in seclusion with little interaction between them'.

'Artists on both sides are working in seclusion with little interaction between them'.
The envelope arrived neatly packed marked for artist Gulam Mohammed Shaikh. And when we sent it to him, he showed one that was marked to us, the packets had got interchanged.
The sender was well known Pakistani artist Gulam Rasool. We interviewed him when he visited Vadodara two years ago.This time, over e-mail, he shares his thoughts on art on either side of the border and how both countries need to promote it.
"Artists on both sides are working in seclusion with little interaction between them. While we have confidence building measures, the field of visual arts remains neglected," says Rasool, a President's award winner.

Rasool feels journalists, actors, musicians, singers and people belonging to theatrical arts are reaping great benefit out of growing ties between India and Pakistan. "But artists and painters have no such common platform that could support their activities and display their work," he rues.
As for those who aspire to send their work across the border, it is an uphill task. For to display paintings, an export-import permit has to be taken from the Commerce Ministry. "Of course packing, crating and transportation means a lot of money as well," he says.

Rasool feels Indians have it better since, "In Pakistan art events are hardly funded by any industrialist, multinational firms or a government agency. In India it is sponsored by art lovers and artists receive financial support from many sources."
Another hurdle that he states is getting the visa. "The home ministries take a long time for the processing, long enough to discourage and frustrate artists," he adds.
Despite the obstacles, he feels artistic traffic between the two countries has increased in the last three years. "Youngsters are travelling through India on a faster pace displaying their work and interacting with their counterparts, so one sees more exchange visits with artists of all age groups in the near future."
manju.ramanan@timesgroup

End of Article

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA