Daily Times

LAHORE: A three-day solo exhibition of artworks titled “Compendium” by visual artist Hassan Babar kicked off at Shakir Ali Museum on Tuesday.

Punjab University College of Art ad Design’s Principal Prof Dr Shahida Manzoor and Manzoor Ahmed inaugurated the exhibition.

The exhibition featuring hand-woven textiles has been organised by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). A good number of art students, professors, artists, classical singer Shafqat Ali, PUCAD assistant professor and practicing artist Dr Sumaira Jawad and art lovers thronged the gallery and admired the artwork of Hassan Babar.

As many as 30 artworks were showcased at the museum’s gallery. Hassan is working on the hand loom tradition and the patterns of Majnu Khes (a traditional fabric) of Sargodha region.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shahida Manzoor said that Babar’s artwork was presenting the culture of our society, especially Sargodha region. She said that his artwork was very creative and inspiring and art lovers should visit the gallery for reviewing Hassan’s show. Hassan has expanded the relationship to present weaving as a very creative art form, encompassing the philosophy expressed by saints as weaving the fabric of life and each thread and knot symbolising the impression of each interaction of his life.

Hassan said that weaving was an indigenous art form of Sargodha region and, “myself being a resident of this area, I was inspired by its indigenous art”. “For me the art of weaving has become a doorway to the cultural and ecological knowledge of the place where I have lived all these years of my life.”

He said that this artwork had been done in the time span of two years. He said that through his artworks, he was exploring the symbolism and imagery associated with pure geometric and non-objective forms, inspired by the pure nature and their influences on folk culture in the past and present. “I combine a variety of materials to push the boundaries of weaving towards the contemporary art scenario and try to introduce the end language of visual arts with all its meanings and philosophies,” Hassan added.

Hassan is a textile artist born in Sargodh in 1986 and serving at the University of Sargodha. He did his BFA and MFA (textile design) from PU in 2008 and 2010, respectively. He has displayed artworks in approximately 10 exhibitions, including solo and group shows, in the last three years.

Dr Sumaira Jawad said that Hassan’s work was an innovative contribution to the immortal language of weaving. “His play with different mediums adds the artistic touch very much needed by a form, which over time has been established as utilitarian and in some cases mundane.”

In his statement, textile artist Zarar Haider Babry said, “Hassan Babar has used the medium of textile art. Mostly it is non-objective compositions with the reference of Majnoo Khais, Ikaid and Masjar formation as a new methodology for creating a new visual language. There is the capacity of working on huge panel in mural formation and its preservation. Moreover, the work of Hassan Babar is the further guidance for the students to use textile art in the fashion and interior designing.”

Dr Saifur Rahman Dar, art teacher and museum expert, in his statement said that weaving was one of the oldest crafts of the world. “Although its origin is intricately linked with the beginning of craft of basketry, our common perception links weaving with the beginning of domestication of animals and cotton seed during the Neolithic Period. In Pakistan, cotton was grown as early as 7,000 BC and with this started the craft of weaving. Its first home was Mehr Garh in Balochistan.”

Published in Daily Times, November 8^th 2017.