Effects of Kashmir conflict comes alive in youngsters’ art

WEDNESDAY, 29 JUNE 2011 14:20 SRINAGAR IZHAR ALI

The two-decades of conflict have left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of Kashmiri youth. This was evident from the paintings and writings of young participants exhibited on the concluding day of a two-day workshop-cum-exhibition titled - my K" Art workshop at Kashmir University here on Tuesday.

The workshop-cum-exhibition was organized by Kashmir Art Quest, askaboutk.com, Gayoor Art Foundation in collaboration with Dean Students Welfare, Kashmir University.

The youngsters, most of them in teens, expressed their thoughts in images and drawings while others penned them down in poems and prose on blank sheets of paper.

“My painting represents the bloodshed of innocents in the Valley last year. It shows the significance of Ghanta Ghar that remained in news for flag hoisting and processions,” an artist, Hilal Khan told this correspondent, while displaying his painting of the historic Ghanta Ghar secured with blood stained barbed wires.

On the top of the clock tower is the Indian flag while on the bottom lies the green flag.

“Last year protesters would assemble at Ghanta Ghar and hoist green flags. The authorities would instantly remove them. These were the sequences of last year’s unrest which I have tried to depict in my painting,” Khan adds.

Moonis, a student has depicted the pain, agony and helplessness of the people of Kashmir vis-à-vis the conflict in his painting. The painting divided into two parts shows the sunrise and sunset denoting hope and hopelessness, as the dark faces in the middle of the painting signify the people of Kashmir who are caught in chaos and confusion.

“My painting is related to the killings of Kashmiris by the Indian forces. Kashmiris have been living under occupation and oppression since centuries. We have been subjected to illegal occupation by India since 1947. My art reflects the suffering of Kashmiris,” says Moonis.

The painting with spools of barbed wire in the bottom ends with colorlessness.

Fatimah Ali, another participant has highlighted various issues related to the ongoing conflict in Kashmir in her painting. From blood stained chess board to the distorted image of Kashmir. From cultural attack to the helpless hands of the people, she has packaged the image of the conflict using a variety of colors and newspaper cuttings.

Mir Suhail, a cartoonist has depicted the suffering of a common Kashmiri with the image of a man holding a broken gun in his hands. The man in the image has blood flowing through his nose and hands.

“The gun is the sole reason for all the problems. Last year or even during the Dogra rule, Kashmiris have been massacred with these weapons. So as an artist, I want an end to this gun culture,” says Suhail.

“Militancy is over now but the military is now creating problems. Let’s give peace a chance,” he adds.

Adil Abbas, another artist has presented erstwhile Kashmir in three parts administered by India, Pakistan and China. Drawn over yellow background signifying prosperity, Adil’s painting has a mixture of Kashmir’s diverse culture and rich traditions.

“Jammu and Kashmir is torn and burnt down in three pieces. The color red signifies the relentless bloodshed in the state,” he says.

Zahoor-din Lone, a student of Music and Fine Arts has shown Jammu and Kashmir entangled with wire as colorful flowers inside the state are bleeding. On the right and left of the state are two hands of the people who are trying to cut the barbed wire and pull out the arrows to get rid of the pain.

In another painting with dark background, an artist has shown Kashmir locked down with chains with its besieged people, while the UN has been blindfolded.

Some artists have also displayed peace, communal harmony, handicrafts and rich culture of Jammu and Kashmir in their paintings.

Syed Mujtaba Rizvi, another student had used light colors to signifying hope, optimism, peace and prosperity in his painting.

“The shades of grey may not necessarily be bad. We need to accept the differences in opinion and others' right to have a say. I have used colors as an indication of a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue,” says Rizvi.

The organizers expressed satisfaction over the success of the exhibition in which over 40 artists participated.

“The aim of the exhibition was to provide a platform to the young artists to showcase their talent. At the same time, we want to make society aware about the importance of art that plays a vital role in cultural evolution,” the organizers said.