Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem Subh-e-Azadi ( Dawn of Freedom ), which describes the Partition, forms the backdrop of an artwork exhibition put together in a show curated by Faiz’s daughter Salima Hashmi.
The installations and video works have been created independently and brought together to fit the theme of Partition in the show, titled “This Night Bitten Dawn”, being organised by Devi Art Foundation in collaboration with the Gujral Foundation.
The exhibits try to reinterpret the moment of Partition nearly seven decades later. It seeks to wonder why, as in Faiz’s poem, “the dark weight of night is not lifted yet”.
On Friday evening, there were two collateral events organised as part of the exhibition. The first was the launch of a book titled “Anwar Jalal Shemza” by Amrita Jhaveri. The book showcases Shemza’s works that layer post-war geometric abstraction with Arabic calligraphic forms.
The launch was followed by a performance by Zambeel Dramatic Readings titled “Taqseem — Writings on Partition by Manto”, featuring Siyah Hashiye and Gurmukh Singh Ki Wasiyat . Mahvash Faruqi, Saife Hasan and Asma Mundrawala read out Siyah Hashiye , which is a set of 32 vignettes, each reflecting ironical perspectives on human nature in the background of the Partition violence. Manto focuses on how human nature reveals itself in dire circumstances.
The exhibition is on till February 29 at 24 Jor Bagh.
