After living several years in Islamabad, when artist Kamal Hyat returned to Lahore in 2010, he was surprised to see how city’s cultural ethos and fabric had changed drastically.
He went to the old city and struck conversations with people, witnessed how heritage was in ruins and compared their condition with the concrete jungle that was being built everywhere. “What I saw was disheartening. The heritage was disappearing because of commercial development,” says Hyat.
This emotional outpouring led to “The Lahore Series”, an exhibition reflecting varied directions that his imagination led him to. “This exhibition is an emotional response to this situation,” Hyat, who was in the capital, tells Metrolife.
“We have a rich history and culture but somewhere the essence got diluted. I, as an artist, felt the need to preserve what I saw and art was the best way to express what I feel about the change,” he adds.
The colours are rich and vibrant, and paintings have a modern take. It is difficult to find colonial traces or architectural resemblances between Lahore and Delhi in his works. However, it serves as a reminder of how the two cities are simultaneously
undergoing changes, without being noticed.
This is the first time Hyat is showcasing his paintings in India. “India has a vibrant art market and has a big name in international art market. So, it became an obvious destination to exhibit,” he says.
He also feels that cultural dialogue between India and Pakistan should continue because “art, music and films” help in building a common culture. “We are so diverse, yet we are so alike. It is important to promote such activities; after all, we are civil people living in a civil society.”
Published 17 November 2015, 17:37 IST