The California-based Sadequain Foundation has published the 25th book on the 34th anniversary of the legendary artist, poet and intellectual. By Farman Ali The title cover of the new book From the Sketchbook of Sadequain. Credit: Dr Salman Ahmed Islamabad: A new book of drawings by Sadequain, an internationally-acclaimed and Pakistan’s most revered calligrapher, muralist, poet, intellectual has been published. …

High Asia Herald Report Islamabad, Feb 17: Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will set-up its regional culture centre in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) for the promotion of the unique but secluded art and culture of the mountainous region. A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed here on Wednesday between PNCA Director-General Dr Fouzia Saeed and GB’s minister for …

Calls for community-driven and managed approach in Gilgit-Baltistan By: Anmol, Shams Uddin & Anayat Baig Karachi: The neoliberal development and conservation have failed to achieve the objectives of protecting endangered species rather endangered the indigenous communities and nature. The market-driven model of conservation is aimed at colonization and securitization of people living in peripheries through the occupation of their common …

by Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro The people of Gayal village in Darel valley of Gilgit-Baltistan use intricate decorations for an ancient mosque, writes anthropologist Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro Pillared verandah of Gayal Mosque, Darel, Gilgit-Baltistan. Photo by the writer Gayal village in Darel valley of Diamer district is believed to have been established about two centuries ago when the descendants of Dudu …

By Farman Ali  Islamabad: A self-taught artist has brilliantly portrayed after COVID19 ethos, in general, and fading cultural heritage as well as city life of Lahore, in particular. The online exhibition of the artworks, titled ’City Dwellers’, by Kamal Hyat, a development professional and free-spirited artist, is a succinct comment on the insensitivity of the society towards cultural heritage now …

Yamga Wakhani Museum is a treasure trove of artefacts, pottery, musical instruments and various objects invented by or remained in use of the Mubarak Wakhani Farman Ali Mubarakkadam Ibn Abdullo, popularly known as Mubarak Wakhani, was a multi-faceted personality — a philosopher, poet, musician, astronomer, art teacher, and Sufi (mystic) scholar — from Badakhshan, Tajikistan. Born in 1839 in a small village …

Global leaders call for awareness about the importance of biodiversity, promotion of ecosystem-based solutions to build a future in harmony with nature    Herald Report   Islamabad: As the world is reeling from the devastating impact of coronavirus, world leaders have called on the global community to “re-examine our relationship to the natural world, create knowledge and awareness about the …

There was an uncanny similarity between the lives of Pushkin and Manto, writes Raza Naeem. Both were largely unrecognised in their own lifetimes, despite believing unapologetically in their own greatness, achieving immortality only after death   Herald Report On May 11, Google celebrated the 108th birthday of renowned short story writer Saadat Hasan Manto with a doodle. Saadat Hasan Manto was …

Painting ‘Maintain the biodiversity of magnificent Hopar Valley’ by Tahir Bilal Umii. Credit: Gallry6 Gallery6 takes initiative to provide relief to 1,000 needy families and artists   By Farman Ali   Islamabad, April 16: As the country is reeling from the devastating health, economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the poor and marginalised segments of the society are …

Herald Report In 2012, a team of archaeologists discovered ancient artifects on the Naryn campus of the University of Central Asia (UCA), says a report published in the newsletter of the university recently. The University mission to help the people of Central Asia preserve and draw upon their rich cultural traditions and heritages as assets for the future came to …

Could this be the long-awaited breakthrough sought by Tajik artists that have been trying to send a message to the world about the clothes and style of the small mountainous republic lost in Central Asia?, writes Lolisanam Ugulva in the Voices on Central Asia, an online research journal.   Just recently, Tajikistan, with its rich aesthetic traditions, has seemingly made …

Situated in the center of Kazakhstan, ALZHIR (Акмолинский лагерь жен изменников родины, “the Akmola camp of wives of traitors to the homeland”) was a notorious prison for thousands of women during its nearly two decades of operation. Behind the barbed wire, the women had to renounce their family and loved ones in order to submit to the will of the “leader of all nations.” …

Ikat is a fabric that got its name from the resist dye technique used to make its patterns. But Professor Elmira Gyul, Chief Researcher at the Institute of Art Studies of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, explains about ikat from a different perspective not as a unique artistic creation, but as a social phenomenon whose role has changed from …

Chinese new year music gala and intangible art show draws big crowed at PNCA   By Farman Ali Islamabad, Jan 17: A cultural gala featuring thrilling opera dances, enchanting musical performances, and display of tradition art heralded Chinese New Year and spring season at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Thursday evening. The show drew a large …

Herald Report   The US invasion of Iraq was aimed at setting up permanent military bases there and to benefit energy corporations and weapons industry, comments Professor Noam Chomsky, an internationally acclaimed American linguist in a conversation with Hassan Mirza, published in The Express Tribune Blogs section. The conversation is based on correspondence between the two over a period of …