Art is King and so the phrase. What is the point of living for art? The idealists have a keen eye for art and culture, rhythm, sound, vibration, colors, poetry, and so on. What is the point of living if we can’t feel the melodies of the breeze? What is the point of life if we can’t feel the wind in our face and hair? What a dull life, if there was no sound, no colors, no trees, no dress, no literature, no books, no sports! Most people do not have an idea of how beautiful art can be. The art illiteracy in Pakistan is at its peak where the idealists find no space for themselves, and acceptance is a far cry.
Decoding the Art Scene of Pakistan
The government institutions in Pakistan seldom pay attention to art and culture. A child learns from his environment, but in Pakistan, he does not learn art. He has no idea of music, painting, writing, or reading. He is trained to cram some books, quotes, dates, etc. He does not know how to swim, how to play an instrument, how to write a story, or how to paint. All he knows is how to solve sums. It kills the creative side of the mind. If we compare this to our neighbors, especially China, their children are masters in extra-curricular activities. The creative space is the place where the children can recognize their inner strength. Sadly, in Pakistan, the children are pushed to memorize things that seldom matter.
Clueless Youth
After successfully converting the children to parrots, the youth is expected to waste their energy and time on chasing money and making a career, or they would be labeled as unsuccessful. Since when did we decide that being an artist is a useless thing? The art deprivation of Pakistani youth puts them in a depressive phase of life. Many adults cannot explain or write their feelings. They cannot analyze themselves. The never-ending cycle repeats until the youth becomes adults, turning into conservative parents and following the same old pattern. I believe art gives people consciousness and a deeper understanding of themselves. Through art, we master ourselves.
Conservative Parenting
The ability to ask questions and find answers is not appreciated in Pakistani society. When children, after going through a depressive youth, become parents/adults, they repeat the same ideology. Generational trauma and blind following are then transformed into children. The tragedy repeats itself until it becomes a pattern. This pattern is embedded deep in the cultural mindset. I feel happy when the youth rebels and questions the old patterns. The artist in me sits back and claps at people who are doing something different. By this, I mean admiring art and becoming a part of nature’s melodies.
‘At once silent and eloquent’: a glimpse of Pakistani visual poetry – Invisiblites
Everyone is an Artist
I strongly agree with the notion that each child is unique in his way. He suppresses his feelings because he isn’t provided with an environment. Human beings crave admiration and appreciation to feel valued. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, society does not accept people who go for something else. Despite having a great voice, one cannot be a singer unless he has parental support. So, can there be a way to live for art instead of money? Instead of just surviving, can we be more alive and feel the rhythm of the universe?
Way forward
The curriculum must be changed. Instead of blindly following colonized pedagogy, the government should introduce some unique subjects – music, art, painting, and literature. The creativity of a person can go hand in hand with a profession. Children who are interested in these subjects can opt for this domain in addition to pre-engineering and pre-medical.
We must endure and tolerate others. Instead of judging everyone around us for their choices and desires, even if we can’t appreciate them, we can keep ourselves silent and be neutral about it. It won’t support them, but it will not hurt them either. Only a tolerant society can produce creative people and great artists.
In short, let’s aim for people who unveil the dark picture of society with their creativity. Let everyone live for the things they love. Only then can art be kept alive.
[Rabail Anjum is the face behind the Aabiwritesalways blog. An accomplished writer who uses her platform to share a diverse array of literary works, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Known for her insightful and emotionally resonant writing, Rabail captures the intricacies of human experiences, weaving themes of identity, culture, and personal growth into her narratives.]
Photo credits: Microsoft Copilot