The Embassy of Pakistan in Minsk in collaboration with the National Library of Belarus held the opening ceremony of the exhibition titled “Contemporary Art of Pakistan”, at the library premises.
The exhibition which will continue till 6 July 2022 is a part of the 75th Anniversary of the Independence Day of Pakistan celebrations.
The event was attended by around 150 guests representing dignitaries, from the Belarusian side, members of the Diplomatic Corps, academia, cultural organizations, and the media houses.
Welcoming the esteemed guests on this occasion, Ambassador of Pakistan to Belarus Sajjad Haider Khan highlighted the cordial bilateral relations between Pakistan and Belarus which have developed apace to become a multifaceted partnership over a relatively short period. He further added that for further strengthening these ties, both the countries have increasingly endeavored to rev up cooperation, with a particular focus on building synergies in the domains of industry, agriculture, education, health & pharmaceuticals, and science & technology.
Underscoring the importance of cultural cooperation, the Ambassador shared with the audience the several Art & Cultural Exhibitions held in different cities of Belarus during the past year.
The Ambassador noted that “Pakistan is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society. Situated at the ever-shifting fault lines between empires, the land of modern-day Pakistan has remained at the heart of regional geopolitics, and a melting pot, with cross-fertilization among cultures over many millennia. It has a rich history in all the visual arts including painting, architecture, textiles, decorative arts, and sculptures”.
The exhibition features the artworks by three Pakistani artists; the contemporary calligraphic works by a promising Pakistani calligrapher, Ayesha Kamal, who participated in the event, masterpieces of world-renowned Pakistani artist Sadequian, and paintings of Noreen Sajid reflecting the hues and forms of everyday life in Pakistan.
The expositions also included handicrafts made of wood, onyx, silver, embroidered wall hangings, cushion covers, and bronze items along with Pakistani dresses from different regions.
A few dozen photographs by Hamid Hussain providing glimpses of Pakistan’s diverse and iconic landscapes were also exhibited on this occasion.
The colorful opening ceremony included a live Pakistani instrumental played by a Belarusian violinist and a vocal song performed by Tatiana Kremes and Vlada Troshko.
The event also marked the establishment of a Pakistani Book Corner in the National Library, for which the Embassy has provided around 40 books, currently being displayed during this exhibition. Towards the end, the guests were also entertained with select Pakistani cuisine in the backdrop of Sufi music.
