Artist Spotlight: Irfan Mirza

Pakistani native Irfan Mirza uses his most recent painting series to capture feelings of love, fear, beauty, pain, violence, suffering, and hope that exist in the worlds current affairs with startling precision.

His work is dazzlingly colorful, excruciatingly painful, and mesmerizingly hopeful all at the same time.

Artist Statement

My most recent painting series is all about human violation and natural disasters. I am painting about war, earthquakes, floods, suicide bombing, and people who are financially frustrated in the current state of the world. This series has been inspired by electronic and print media where one can see the suffering that exists around the world. My work express my pain for the suffering people everywhere and my plea for help from God to bring peace on earth.

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Hope Survive

The title of my painting expresses my hope to survive the destruction, exploitation and violation prevalent in the world presently, there is still 'hope', which survives in the hearts of the people that peace will re emerge one day. This art work illuminates the current horrifying humanitarian conditions of the world. The rough strokes show the preponderance of evil over good. The colors that i have used are mainly red, blue and black with some shades of purple. The color red illustrates the danger that is predominant amongst people; this fear is  reflected in the terrifying eyes of the figures i have made. Red is also the sign of blood and it signifies 'life' and indicates 'survival'. Blue on the other hand, shows the inspiration and sincerity through which people are wanting spiritual and physical relief from the terror. Consequently, black means grief and death, and purple symbolizes mystery. This painting reflects fear, danger, death, destruction and mystery, but most importantly, it indicates a hope for survival, that is the primary requirement for human beings everywhere. 

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Hidden Fear

I have illustrated the fear that has grasped human beings all over the world through this piece of art. It is mainly about the death and destruction that currently exists throughout the world, which. Fear is a major component of the terror prevalent in the form of bomb attacks in Pakistan. It has made man's life on earth miserable. Bomb attacks that are executed against "terrorists" create lasting moments of terror in the nation. Even the innocent are being miserably killed. The distorted lines in this art work indicates the disturbance in the lives of the innocent people. The use of colors like black and red indicates the danger and hidden fear of death amongst the people. However, human beings are hopeful about their conditions because no matter whatever the consequences are, man remains hopeful for the betterment of himself and for his fellow human beings.

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Mirza will be one of the artists to be showcased at "Youth Art Express", taking place in Los Angeles later this year. For more information on Irfan Mirza or Youth Art Express contact youthartexpress@gmail.com.

Karachi Literature Festival 2012

Launched in 2010, the annual Karachi Literature Festival is open to all and free. The first of its kind in Pakistan, it brings together and celebrates Pakistani and international authors writing in languages such as Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, Seraiki, English, German and French. It features creative writing workshops, debates/discussions, lectures, Mushairah (Urdu poetry jam), a book fair, book launches, readings, signings, interactive story-telling for children, music/theatre performances, and more.

Author Samina Quraishi at the Karachi Literature Festival

The Karachi Literature Festival also celebrates music, dance and theater arts, which are often connected to literature.  The 2011 Festival began with a homage to Amir Khusro by Sheema Kermani’s group, featured Ajoka Theatre's performances of sections of Shahid Nadeem’s Bulha (Punjabi play) and Dara, (Urdu play) and culminated with a tribute to Faiz Ahmed Faiz in the year of his 100th birth anniversary. The Faiz tribute featured literary and music favourites like Zehra Nigah, Tina Sani, Laal (band), Raza Rumi and Ali Sethi.

Writer/blogger Raza Rumi with Naz Ikramullah

Puppet Show

In 2012  film screenings were added to the Festival's already diverse line-up of events. The screenings included a discussion/Q &A with the films directors.  To celebrate the birth bicentennial of Charles Dickens this year, Owen Calvert-Lyons of the Arcola Theatre and Peter Higgin of Punchdrunk Enrichment from the UK, presented a theatrical session inspired by "The Uncommercial Traveller," Dickens' "account of (among other things) his wanderings around London."  To celebrate the birth centennial of Saadat Hasan Manto we organized a talk by his niece and renowned historian, Ayesha Jalal.

Director Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy doing a Q&A with the audience after showing her recent film "Saving Face"

Exhibit Spotlight: Besa: Albanian Muslims Who Saved Jews during the Holocaust at The Museum of Tolerance

Besa is an ancient code of Honor that dictates that no person should be turned away in time of need. Besa, means literally “to keep the promise.” One who acts according to Besa is someone who keeps his word, someone to whom one can trust one’s life and the lives of one’s family.  It is a code that Albanian Muslims strictly abide by, which led them to rescue 2,000-3,000 Jews seeking asylum during the Holocaust. 

Photographer Norman Gershman engaged in a 5-year project honoring stories of Albanian Muslims' who risked their own lives to rescue thousands of Jews, who either lived in Albania or sought asylum there during World War II.

Through portraiture and personal stories, Norman Gershman communicates the honor, faith, heroism, and altruism of these remarkable individuals. 

Zanbeel Art was a sponsor of the exhibit and arranged for 50 young students from LAUSD to take a guided tour of Gershman's photo exhibit that was held at The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles in 2011. 

First Pakistani painting donated to the City of Los Angeles

"Morphing"

2011

Mission Statement for the donated Artwork by Pakistani-American Community

The artwork entitled, “Morphing,” depicts an Angel with Golden Wings. It is a perfect symbol for the “City of Angels” that is Los Angeles. The “Morphing” signifies a profound change. Los Angeles is a melting pot of immigrants from all over the world. Each immigrant comes with a dream to “Change” their lives for a better tomorrow. This unique treasure also represents a positive symbol of the future unity between people of all roots and regions.

Aileen Adams, Deputy Mayor Los Angeles

Aileen Adams with members of the Department of Cultural Affairs Council

The Artist

Asad Hussain, an emerging artist from Pakistan uses shades of charcoal to masterfully draw the figure of a child, and for the gigantic golden wings his medium of choice is gold and silver embellishments and inks. The title “Morphing” comes from metamorphosis, which means a profound change. The image is not just an image of a crouching child with wings, but a child of color with wings, and has the potential to serve as a metaphor for the multicultural place that LA is.  

Exhibiting for the first time in USA, the artwork by Asad Hussain was displayed at the Santa Monica Art Studios from May 1-8, where it captured the eye and appreciation of generous Philanthropist Mrs. Amina Adaya.

Group photo at "Morphing" ceremony

Philanthropist Mrs. Amina Adaya donates "Morphing" to the City of Los Angeles

The Donor

On behalf of the Pakistani community, Mrs. Amina Adaya donated this stunning piece of artwork, “Morphing", to the City of Los Angeles from her personal collection, with the vision that her contribution will serve as a beautiful, powerful image and a positive symbol of the future unity among the diverse communities of Los Angeles. 

Javed Jabbar book launch in Los Angeles
"Pakistan: Unique Origins, Unique Destiny"

November 2011

Javed Jabbar is chairman and chief executive, JJ Media (Pvt.) Ltd. in Karachi, Pakistan. A former senator and federal minister of Pakistan, he takes an active interest in a variety of fields including international affairs, volunteer work for rural and urban development, the environment, social issues, and mass media.

 (left to right) Dr. Asad Abidi, Javed Jabbar, Salim Adaya, CG Riffat Masood, Christian Troy

While maintaining his association with international affairs and Track II diplomacy, he also serves pro bono as global Vice President, IUCN, of the world's largest and oldest environmental organization.

He has served as Federal Minister in 3 Cabinets, Adviser to General Pervez Musharraf, Personal Representative of Benazir Bhutto at the UN, and is a current Member of the Democracy Assessment Group and Civil-Military Dialogue Group in Islamabad.  Since 1992 Jabbar has served as a member of the longest-running Pakistan-India track-II process known as the Neemrana Dialogue. 

(left to right) Durainaz Farooqui, Fatima Sultan, Javed Jabbar, Hina Abidi, Samiya Khan

USC  with Mona Hamdani, Javed Jabbar, organizer Razina Tarr, and students

(left to right) Samiya Khan, Adnan Khan, Dr. Farooqui, Dr. Farhana Mohamed

Jabbar is the author of several books including his most recent work,Pakistan: Unique Origins, Unique Destiny (National Book Foundation, 2011).

Read more about his books here.

(left to right) Fatima Sultan, Christian Troy, Javed Jabbar, Shabnam Jabbar, Muneeba Siddiqui, Zoya Sattar, Anila Ali

In November 2011 Javed Jabbar visited Southern California and held a Public Forum at The Mark Taper Auditorium in Los Angeles.

 as well as giving talks at institutions including USC and UCI.

Click here to watch his talk "Darkness Before Dawn? The Future of Pakistan" at the 2011 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference