Online Art Gallery launched to promote artworks

PESHAWAR: The Directorate of Culture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday launched Online Art Gallery to promote the artworks and provide a platform to artists to display their work.

Former chairperson of Fine Arts Department, University of Peshawar (UoP), Professor Tayyaba Aziz was the chief guest. She along with Director Culture Ajmal Khan, noted artist Jehanzeb Malik and known Pashto poet Abaseen Yousafzai formally launched the service in a ceremony held at the Nishtar Hall.

Fine Arts Department, UoP, Chairman Sher Ali Khan, Deputy Director, Directorate of Culture, Shahbaz Khan, and a large number of fine arts students and art lovers attended the launching ceremony.

Visual Arts Specialist Directorate of Culture Ahsan Zeb briefed the audience about the working of the online gallery and how to get registered, make an account and share own piece work to find suitable customers.

He said that any artists can get registered by filling a simple online form on the webpage culture.kpdata.gov.pk/kpartists.

The official said that any shortcoming in the online gallery service would be removed and suggestions in this regard from the artists and art lovers appreciated.

Known painter who has won several awards including Gulgee and Ghani Khan awards, Jehanzeb Malik highlighted the hardships and not benefiting from the artworks of senior artists. “Some experienced artists are no more among us and they and their work remains unknown to people,” said Malik.

He added that the people of KP did not buy art pieces and that was why the artists preferred to work in Karachi and Lahore as people there like art and buy their products.

Pashto language poet, Prof Dr Abaseen Yousafzai said that there was performing and creative arts. He said people associated with the performing were visible while creative artists were working behind the screen. “The creative artists always think of something new and creative,” he added.

He said the province has a very conducive environment for creative art but not suitable for artworks to promote the artworks. “There is no recognition of the artworks and people associated with this sector as compared to rest of the world. Artists should be given due importance and opportunities to promote this sector,” he added.

Sher Ali Khan said the Online Art Gallery initiative would provide a platform and identity to the unknown artists.

Artists demanded setting up of a gallery at the Nishtar Hall as well to display the artworks of senior artists

including Gulgee, Ghani Khan and others as currently there was no gallery in the province.

Prof Dr Tayyaba Aziz said the number of artists was increasing, which she termed a positive sign for this sector.

She recalled that there were only six artists in the province some 35 year ago. “But now I am very satisfied to see the young boys and girls turning up at this event. Now these youth will carry forward the legacy of their seniors,” she added.

Dr Tayyaba Aziz urged the young girls and students of fine arts to not abandon the profession for only looking after the houses and children. “Women can continue their fine arts work along with shouldering domestic responsibilities. Nothing should stop girls from practicing their skills and doing artwork,” she added.

The professor said that fine arts should be promoted at the grassroots and taught at schools and colleges. “Organising exhibitions and arts competitions at tehsil, district and provincial levels would help encourage the newcomers and other artists and ultimately promote fine arts,” she added.

Pakhtunkhwa College of Arts, Mardan, Principal Fazal Sattar Durrani said arts galleries set up by individuals or private organisations were closed down due to

lack of support from the government. “The government did not support or arrange any art exhibition or any other related activity at the district or tehsil levels,” he pointed out.

Director Culture KP Ajmal Khan said the directorate planned to set up a

physical art gallery at Nishtar Hall.