The week has been fairly occupied with preparations for the
show next Monday at Alhamra Art Gallery. It is my first in Pakistan, and first
solo abroad. The etchings are from the last four years and are inspired by
people and places seen on my travels in North Africa, the Middle East and
Mexico, as well as inner city Melbourne. It seemed fitting to call it 'home and
away'.
As with previous exhibitions there have been extensive
negotiations over invites, framing and publicity. Unique to Pakistan were the
discussions over the size, quantity and supplier of the samosas. Friends had
dissenting views as to the best samosawallah in Lahore, with Liberty,
Main Market and Lakma Chowk all competing for places. I suggested the man from
the local Firdos Market, who makes his pastry thin and light, and studded with
caraway seeds.
The content of the samosas, ever debatable, remained
undebated.
Otherwise it's business as usual. The state of emergency
continues, and apart from the flurry of arrests that first weekend there are no
more or less police in riot gear than in previous months. The shops and markets
are open, the streets full of people, bicycles, buses and rickshaws.
There are only three weeks left at college. The time has
passed amazingly quickly, and there is only room for one more portrait class, a
trip to the zoo, and final free for all where everything learnt and seen over
the last three months can be applied.
This last week has seen some of the students really open
their eyes for the first time. It is a pleasure to watch them actively engage
with their subject and material, to grapple with shapes and forms and emerge
smiling, faces and hands covered in charcoal and graphite. I wish them well.
