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Italy comes to Pakistan, creates a markhor mural at Jinnah Airport

Italy comes to Pakistan, creates a markhor mural at Jinnah Airport

In collaboration with VASL Artists' Collective, Italian artist Maurizio Boscheri is jazzing up Karachi's airport
Updated 23 Aug, 2016

Something's happening at Jinnah International Airport, and it involves a markhor.

No, our national animal isn't on the loose ready to delay your next flight — it's going to be part of a mural.

VASL Artists' Collective has partnered up with the Italian Consulate to paint yet another mural at Jinnah International Airport.

Accompanied by curator Mario Liberali, Italian artist Maurizio Boscheri has planned to paint a mural featuring the national animal of Pakistan, the markhor. The two came to Karachi for an exhibition at Mohatta Palace that features artwork based on nature and wildlife.

Arriving at Jinnah International Airport, we were greeted by the sight of the artists and VASL team members Veera, Hira and Yasser. Veera Rustomji, a member of VASL met with us and introduced us to all present and also to VASL itself.

Artist Maurizio Boscheri outlines his vision for the mural
Artist Maurizio Boscheri outlines his vision for the mural

Veera explained: "VASL is a Pakistani Artist residency and we provide a platform to foreign and local artists to carry out projects. So for instance in this project, we knew that the Italian artist Maurizio was coming to Pakistan for a private exhibition at Mohatta Palace and we wanted to give him an opportunity to introduce his work to a larger audience."

"So we found this wall and since we have good relations with the Civil Aviation Authority, he's using it to feature the markhor. He creates art related to nature. All of his paintings right now are more or less focused on animals from South Asia."

As Maurizio immersed himself in drawing out the mural, Mario happily greeted us and told us how they got to come to Karachi for the exhibition and decided to take up this project as well.

Curator Mario Liberali discusses work with local artist Phool Ge
Curator Mario Liberali discusses work with local artist Phool Ge

According to Mario, "Our consulate general, he proposed that we have an exhibition here. We thought about something approachable to the Pakistani people, like their own local culture and animals. So because he (Maurizio) likes concepts around nature, he decided to go with the idea of the markhor."

By this time, Maurizio had come down to greet us as well. We had a little language barrier situation going on but soon sorted that out; both the artist and the curator were happy to talk about their fascination with Karachi and South Asian wildlife.

"We now have friends in Karachi," says Mario. "Karachi is so lively! I can keep saying that, how it's full of life. There's so much to do and the people are so friendly."

"This is not our first time in Pakistan!" pointed out Mario with a smile, "We came before around December, just to arrange a small exhibition, so we got to see the town and meet some people. We even went to Kinjhar lake and Thatta. So now we have friends here. And it's very nice to be here because now its not just the exhibition and this project, but our acquaintances got us three workshops, two in universities and one in Mohatta Palace. And we'll get to meet more people, students and folks who love art. We are planning even more activities here in Karachi."

Maurizio draws the markhor
Maurizio draws the markhor

The Italian duo is excited for the many plans in the pipeline for Karachi and want to collaborate more.

Maurizio reveals, "We barely arrived three days ago but we are already absorbed in so much work but we love it! Karachi is so lively! I can keep saying that, how it's full of life. There's so much to do and the people are so friendly. Everyone we've met has made us feel like we're at home. We knew nothing about Karachi before, but we got here and it's beautiful."

Local artist Phool Ge is working with Maurizio on the mural, and says: "There's a language barrier, but we understand him [Maurizio] because of his vision. We communicate through art."

As we chatted on, with the artist also asking us questions about Karachi and places to go, a team of artists painted on the mural according to Maurizio's instructions. This team was led by local artist Phool Ge, who had also worked with German graffiti artist Sebastian Schmidt on his mural at the airport.

As Phool came down to ask Maurizio to set a color scheme for the mountain on the mural, we asked the local artist about how he got on board for this project.

"We had an idea about the project, we actually got an email," says Phool, "but we're meeting today for the first time. So, yes, now we have to make our minds one. Like, this color scheme isn't our style, it's all his. We're just following his scheme."

Art was the common language here!
Art was the common language here!

Apart from not having any prior discussions, there was also an initial communication gap, but it was easily fixed. "There's a language barrier, but we understand him [Maurizio] because of his vision. The kind of scheme an artist has in mind, we're able to understand that if the artist actually knows his work and he does. He's able to explain. We communicate through art," says Phool.

As we chatted, a formerly blank wall was transformed and now featured a markhor standing majestically in front of a mountain.

One day's work! We were amazed!
One day's work! We were amazed!

Varah explained how this collaboration was different from the one done with Sebastian Schmidt. "With Maurizio it's a collaboration with the Italian consulate. Usually we have resident artists like Sebastian Schmidt who did the graffiti wall before. He stayed with us. We have rooms and they live with us as a part of VASL. Maurizio isn't staying with us."

VASL hopes to have an open day for the completion of the mural around 27th August.


The writer can be reached on Twitter

Comments

Noor Aug 20, 2016 01:39pm
Because, coming generations will have to see Markhor in murals and pictures only.
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Skeptic Aug 20, 2016 01:50pm
You could transplant the Eiffel Tower to Karachi. But with all the blight and stinking trash everywhere, it is not going to make Karachi any more attractive!!
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Syed Hussain Akbari Aug 20, 2016 03:50pm
@Skeptic Why be pessimistic ? See light and you will be happy.
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Calypso Aug 20, 2016 03:52pm
Let us look at the bright side of life: Pakistan may be a bit isolated at political level, but a couple of things are happening at cultural level. Politicians or Governments come and go, but culture remains. So it is a good to see Italian artists in action at Karachi Airport.
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Azhar Ali Aug 20, 2016 04:26pm
@Noor Have to disagree, Markhor conservation is one of the most successfull projects in the world. Not due to government authorities but due to local villagers. Just google it.
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Aziz Aug 20, 2016 05:52pm
@Skeptic Sir / Madam, Please enjoy the art. These are well-meaning foreigners who mustered the courage to come and "beautify" our country in the eyes of the world. Their expressions and the way they see Pakistan lifts us out of our despondency. Thank you VASL. A big thank you to Mario and Maurizio
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S. A. M. Aug 20, 2016 06:44pm
a very warm welcome to our friends from Italy. we are so grateful for the work of art which is extremely beautiful.
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a Aug 20, 2016 10:24pm
Street Art and public wall art is big in many countries. We tried it in our city, but there was so much leg pulling in the City hall among political groupings, we just gave it up.
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stevenson Aug 21, 2016 12:04am
@Noor Maybe you don't know that locals are doing good work at preserving local animals in Northern Pakistan . The Markhor numbers are improving thanks to efforts of locals and sharing income from trophy hunting.
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AbbasToronto Aug 21, 2016 01:44am
In my stays and visits to Europe I found the Italians to be the most human and humane of them all. The English are distant, French are arrogant, Germans are constipated, but the Italians are loving. They were the first in Europe to be international, with rise of Venetian States. Marco Polo was visiting China before Ibn Batuta did. What other country could supply the likes of Sonia, and Teresa (well, well, she was Albanian, but spoke Italian) to India? Where else could a person like Abdus Salam set up a nuclear centre open to all researchers from the Developing world. What other country could supply giants like Galileo, da Vinci, Fermi, Volta, Marconi, Tonti? Welcome Italians to Pakistan. You are among friends. Thank you.
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GA Aug 21, 2016 07:44am
@AbbasToronto - Italians may be nice but no need to dis and generalize others Europeans. I have met some nice people amongst French, Germans and Brits.
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Mahzar Aug 21, 2016 08:45am
Italians are the most amazing people I met whilst travelling to Europe. They are lively, lovely and humble lets welcome our Italian friends to Pakistan and long live beautiful Art.
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Bupi Aug 21, 2016 10:14am
Art is certificate of a Nation one who preserve its Past can only Glorify ones Present to world
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Abbas Husain Aug 23, 2016 08:10am
@Skeptic The Eiffel Tower is not in Italy but in Paris!!! And I am sure all cities have their issues with garbage disposal...but tourists manage to see the good things and overlook the unworthy things!!
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Naqad Aug 23, 2016 07:24pm
Exquisite work, indeed! Takes one back to the golden days of the fantastic murals of Sadequain!
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