5rd edition of Chughtai Art Awards held at Konya

KONYA:  As part of Cultural Diplomacy, the Pakistan Embassy in Ankara organized the Chughtai Art Awards competition in the Konya province. The thematic focus of the competition was “Mughal/Turkish Art & Architecture of Pakistan.” The event was organized in collaboration with the Konya branch of Turkey’s Ministry of National Education.

 Depicting the theme, a total of 28 paintings were shortlisted for consideration by a panel of independent judges, and nine paintings were finally selected for prizes in three categories. The painting by Mr Ömer Baran of Konya Çimento Fine Arts High School won the first prize, while those by Ms. Melisa Toker of Meram Anadolu High School and Ms. Nazlı Canan Çal of Konya Çimento Fine Arts High School received second and third prizes, respectively.

 Speaking at the Prize Distribution Ceremony, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Sohail Mahmood appreciated the talent, hard work and deep thinking of the participants of the Chughtai Art competition, and congratulated the students who won prizes and certificates of distinction. The Ambassador underscored that through such events and activities, the younger generation would be better acquainted with the illustrious tradition of close Pakistan-Turkey relations -- based on common faith, cultural affinities, and shared history.

 The Ambassador added that Pakistan’s national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal and great Sufi saint Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi were great symbols of spiritual connection between Pakistan and Turkey. Konya was also a sister-city with Multan, known in Pakistan as the city of saints. He expressed the resolve to further deepen the spiritual and cultural bonds with Konya and highlighted ways to intensify people-to-people exchanges including in the arts, music, and cinema.

The Konya province Director of National Education Directorate Mr. Mukadder Gürsoy said the brotherly relations between the two countries were deep rooted in history. He recalled the historic support extended by the Muslims of Sub-Continent for the Turkish War of Independence and said this gesture will always remain in the minds of successive generations. The participating students stated that the competition had enabled them to enhance their knowledge about Pakistan and Turkey-Pakistan fraternal ties.

The exhibition of the paintings shortlisted in the competition will remain open to public till 7 June 2016 at the Public Library of Konya.