Post Mortem Report Of Art in Pakistan

Art has clearly lost its essence it used to have in our country. Even when someone hears about someone choosing arts as a profession field, it’s considered as something one would do when you are incapable of becoming either a doctor or engineer and is seen as a hobby one would pursue. In recent times, our film industry might be thriving one step at a time but the quality of Television dramas has lost its glamor. Upon asking veteran writer Anwar Maqsood about why he writes no more for the drama industry he said, “I have written for 55 year for all of you. No one is writing anymore, Ashfaq Ahmad isn’t writing, Bano Qudssia isn’t writing, Bajia isn’t writing, Munno bhai isn’t writing, Intezar Hussain isn’t writing. He was asked that they all have passed away to which he replied, "They all have left us with their luminous style of drama writing. There is drama no more.”

Zia’s Regime

Pakistani artists went through a horrendous time during Zia ul Haq’s regime. Haq imposed martial law and his policies changed the course of our nation after using religion as tool for the Afghan war. Haq is dead but the impact of his ideology has affected and continues to haunt the nation till date. Zia-ul Haq adhered to a particular sect, which logically nurtured a sectarian divide. Moreover, the sect that he followed was already conservative and with its distinct coloring by the General, it invited a strong opposition from the liberal factions of society.

The offense of art

It must be kept in view that an art work embodies the expression of an artist’s mind. It reflects the intellectual paradigms, the emotional preferences and the cultural temperament of its creator. The artists therefore felt the whole change, perceived the impact that it had on identity and then in their own distinct ways expressed their take on the issue. Some of the artists used their creative energy within the set parameters and rules of the government, while others, violated. Quddus Mirza wrote that “Art with political connotation became a criminal offence.”

Islamic art encouraged

Many of the artists, who were great exponents of figurative art turned towards Calligraphy as in dictator’s version of Islam, figurative art was prohibited. Zia-ul Haq himself patronized the art of Calligraphy. Sadequain and many other artists were commissioned by the state to produce works of Calligraphy. This political decision had its cultural impact. The people who adorned their drawing rooms with paintings started putting Calligraphy instead.

Poets Jailed

Poets were jailed. Jalib was one of the most prominent voices of his time had risen to prominence by challenging the hegemonic control of military dictator Ayub Khan. He was jailed several times in the time of Khan, Bhutto as well as Zia. One of the most loved poets of the subcontinent, Faiz was jailed and banished by Pakistan several times and military dictator Zia-ul-Haq had put a ban on public recitation of his poetry.

In recent times

Adeela Suleman had installed 444 concrete pillars infront of Frere Hall Karachi symbolising the number of extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out between 2011 and 2018 by senior superintendent of Sindh police, Rao Anwar, infamously known as “encounter specialist”. Her exhibit was destroyed.

Among the men who carried out the destruction of Suleman's installation was Mohammed Rashid, who headed a team of city wardens from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). "We were merely carrying out orders to destroy these columns and load the rubble into trucks. I don't even know where they were taken," he said, when asked why they could not have loaded the columns instead of breaking them up first.

Summing up Students take on importance of art

Summing up all of the reasons why the journey of arts in Pakistan wasn’t as streamlined, Hassan Alam Khan an Electrical Engineering student was interviewed about his opinion, to which he said, “The bar of education set in our country is at fault. Students are not allowed to explore themselves rather are forcefully pushes into a never-ending race of becoming “successful.” Success lies in exploring one abilities and dreams, may they be artistic or scientific. The reason why cinema and TV has lost it old touch is because of the commercialization of our cinematic products and intolerance from our people due to which artists lose their capabilities of expression. People should be given the right environment to think and express. There should be a proper standard of writers and artists just like in every field by merit. The only can we see light at the end of the tunnel. Our nation has a lot to offer and achieve hopefully.”