LAHORE: The Lahore Arts Council (LAC) has lent five precious paintings to the Qatar Museums for an exhibition to be held there from Oct 31, 2024, to Jan 31, 2025.

These paintings include Abdual Rehman Chughtai’s work titled, ‘Sweet Memory’, Ustad Allah Baksh’s ‘Mountains’ and Sohni Mahiwal, a painting by Shakir Ali titled ‘Kitchen Table’ and Salima Hashmi’s ‘Sohni Dharti.

All these paintings were on display at the Alhamra Museum at the Alhamra Cultural Complex in Gulberg, Lahore.

Alhamra Museum Curator Hajra Mehmood told Dawn that the paintings, sealed in a wooden crate, were handed over to the Qatar Museums representatives on Sept 3.

The artworks will be opened in the Qatar Museums in October in the presence of LAC Executive Director Sarah Rashid and two representatives from Alhamra.

Ms Mehmood said she and LAC Deputy Director (admin) Khurram Nabeel will also visit Qatar for the exhibition of these paintings.

To a question, she said the paintings have been given to the Qatar Museums under certain conditions, including their insurance coverage by the museums. However, in case of any disaster, such as earthquake, plane crash and war, the the Qatar Museums will not be responsible for any damage to the artworks, she added. But, in case of any damage caused by workers, the Qatar Museums will cover complete insurance cost.

The Qatar Museums, she says, is responsible for handling these artworks, preventing theft, dirt, mishandling and fluctuations of temperature.

Under another condition, the paintings will remain on displayed and won’t be kept in store without the consent of the lender, Ms Mehmood said, adding that the Qatar Museums is also responsible for shipment/transport of the artworks.

She said the lender will provide a condition report while handing over the artworks and will get a condition report from the museum on their return.

The Qatar Museums has the right to publish, market and advertise all artworks, she added.

Kids festival: The Lahore Arts Council will organise a two-day kids festival at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, on Sept 21 and 22.

The festival will feature story telling, magic show, puppet theatre, gaming zone, animated movies and stalls.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2024