KARACHI: Distinguished arts educator Prof Salima Hashmi captivated audiences with her discourse on contribution of women in contemporary arts.
She addressed a well-attended event at Aga Khan University as part of varsityís special lecture series.
Prof Salima discussed women’s place in the modern history and the reflections in the works of art by women as a social study in itself.
Recounting the beginning of arts education in Pakistan, she narrated how it was considered a peripheral activity secondary in nature to physical sciences and therefore was left for women.
Her discussion of changes in arts vocabulary of women highlighted relation between stimuli provided by socio-political environment of 80s and the way women artistes chose to react.
She elaborated upon how imposition of ‘chadar’ or veil altered the course of expression for many women artistes in different genres.
Prof Salima, also a recipient of the President’s Award for Pride of Performance, showed to audience works of leading female artists from Pakistan who especially focused on highlighting struggle of women in the country.
Her selection featured Amrita Shergill, Anna Molka Ahmed, Zubeida Agha, Mehar Afroze, Durriya Kazi, Naazish Ataullah, Ayesha Khalid, Sumayya Durrani, Naiza Khan and Shazia Sikander. AKU President Shamsh Kassim Lakha also spoke on the occasion.
