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ISLAMABAD: The Asian Study Group (ASG) invited Professor Salima Hashmi to talk about contemporary art in light of her recently published book titled ‘The Eye Still Seeks: Pakistani Contemporary Art’ on Friday.

The book looks at the variety of art work produced over the past two decades and during the talk, Prof Hashmi traced the components and compulsions of the contemporary Pakistani art scene.

“Today I am looking primarily at the social and political concerns that have engaged Pakistani artists and explore the process through which this has come about. The Pakistan’s contemporary art scene, arguably the most exciting in South Asia, has grabbed international attention in recent years.”

Prof Hashmi is a council member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Over the years she has held various positions where she has helped direct the progression of art education in Pakistan and has promoted many young artists.

At the event on Friday, she talked about what makes art such an animated and unpredictable mix and what the social and political circumstances which instigate and nurture the new generation of provocative and witty young artists are.

“Dissent is something that is not new in either poetry or in art. The poet speaks to the people and has been doing so for centuries but the artist wants access to the same audience,” she said.

“The seeds of this art were sown in the regime of Ziaul Haq, with the targeting of women, peasants and intelligentsia. The representation of oppression and particularly the repression of the female form found expression in that period. Post-Zia, there is a continuation of the exploration of the content of things that are relevant to women’s lives, with similar ideas but with a sense of celebration as well. The female body has particularly concerned women artists as the State has addressed the female body as something it has jurisdiction over. Additionally in times of insecurity, difficulty and conflict, women experience the brunt of the consequences,” she added.

Broader issues in Pakistani art and culture seem to echo those of other postcolonial Asian Societies, she said. However Pakistan’s strategic geographical location and socio-political history dictate interesting divergences. Different artists approach the issues from different perspectives. There is a lot on humour in the narratives in Pakistani Art – dark humour, social satire and delightful tongue-in-cheek humour, she said.

Also speaking at the event was Dr. Brigitta Blaha, Ambassador of Austria and ASG Patron.

“The art scene in Pakistan is very exciting. In my own country we have two art galleries who represent Pakistani artists who have gained international renown. Now you come across Pakistani artists in most European countries and in Pakistan itself, I don’t think I have been in any house, except in the very rural areas, where there is no Pakistani contemporary art on the walls,” she said.

President of ASG Perveen Malik said: “Today we are celebrating 43 years of the Asian Study Group and this has only been possible because of the support of the Islamabad community, especially the Serena Hotel and Mr. Aziz Boolani who host many of our events. The ASG is a wonderful way to get to know more about the region and to participate in group activities that one is interested in.”

Originally published in Dawn, September 24th, 2016