LAHORE: An artist talk and workshop for schoolchildren as part of Lahore Biennale was held at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac) on Monday.

The event was organised by Pilac in collaboration with the Lahore Biennale.

The exclusive aspect of the art activity was based on a newer idea of having interaction between the schoolchildren and an international artist whose works are on display at different venues in the city, including Pilac.

Hundreds of children from private and government schools participated in the workshop on pottery and had an interaction with the artist, Imran Ahmed, whose installations and other works are on display at Pilac as part of the biennial.

The exhibition is based on Mehrgarh civilisation, focusing on the agriculture scene of the ancient times and first urban settlements in South Asia.

Pilac Director General Saman Rai, in her keynote address, underlined the need of strengthening art and culture roots among the children at the school level.

“The children immensely enjoyed the artworks, especially the live tandoor and different motifs and designs of rotis, depicting the food shapes and substance of ancient times”.

Ms Rai said such interactive sessions of art developed a knack among the children for artworks and understanding the cultural milieu.

Artist Imran Ahmed spoke about his works and interacted with children on clay toys, on display at Pilac, depicting the period and craft of Mehrgarh civilization.

The children enthusiastically took part in a pottery workshop and leant about terracotta and how toys were made with clay.

A traditional Dhol performance was part of the event on Monday. Two drumbeaters gave an energetic performance, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.

Meanwhile, about 600 children from various high schools visited the Alhamra Art Museum at the Alhamra Cultural Complex, Qaddafi Stadium.

The students saw the precious artworks at and praised the huge collection.

During a visit to the museum, curator Hajra Mehmood highlighted the importance of the museum, saying the institution held a unique and prominent spot in the world of arts where national and international groups paid a visit on a regular basis.

Lahore Arts Council Executive Director Ather Ali Khan said Alhamra museum was the major art centre, featuring art history of Pakistan where various schools, colleges, and universities paid visits regularly.

He added that the museum was an important institution and it had 326 artworks of 118 world-renowned artists.

The heads of school delegations said it was a pleasure to see the artworks of masters at the museum.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2020