Today would have been the last, heady day of the Shanaakht Festival 2009. Today, CAP was going to present an exciting and diverse range of events; a kabaddi match, discussions with iconic Pakistanis, photo exhibitions, street theatre, and oral histories of the partition generation. Today T2F was going to host a story-telling session with Mrs. Raziuddin who played in the lap of Josh Sb as a child and was one of the first women in Karachi to drive a car, run a business, and make a film. Today, T2F was going to host a Mushaera featuring Karachi’s leading Urdu poets. Today, ADP and other musicians would have started arriving at the venue to set the stage for Raag and Roll. Today, thousands of Karachi’s citizens would have thronged the Arts Council to participate in a free, open festival celebrating our history, art, theatre, poetry, music, and resilience.
Today, why aren’t we all at the Karachi Arts Council, instead of sitting at home and writing frustrated blog posts? Answers will vary depending on who you ask. I think, as always, the real answers to such complex questions, are blowing in the wind.
Much has happened in the 4 days since the occurrence of the “incident” that unraveled the Shanaakht Festival 2009 in under 10 minutes. The press has misreported and reported, apologies have been rendered, threats have been issued, FIRs have been registered, government lackeys have lashed out at CAP, and aggrieved parties continue to expound their views on blogs and social networks. Many have spoken volumes by choosing to remain silent.
My earlier post on the Shanaakht mess has met with considerable criticism; which is absolutely fine – many valid points have been raised – but I am pained to be included in a group that one blogger writes about “… and it continues with tacit support of our so-called liberal intelligentsia”, because I commented strongly on the stupidity of the artwork. I have also been blown away by the inability of so-called educated people to read, analyze, and process.
After watching “Judgement at Nuremberg”, I lay in a crumpled heap for 2 hours, unable to speak for fear of throwing up. The film taught me, in no uncertain terms, about the granularity, complexity, and multi-hued textures of situations. Opinions evolve and can change over time. One can’t go through life being glib about everything, especially when commenting from very safe distances.
On a side-note, I tried to reconvene T2F’s Nadeem Aslam reading and conversation session at a venue that had earlier promised support to T2F following its eviction. Quite understandably, they said NO owing to security concerns. This is exactly what I expected following the Shanaakht fiasco, when I said that all our work will now be threatened and destablilized. This is why judiciousness and prudence is necessary in this environment, if you want to keep plugging away and making a difference. I don’t think that makes one a sell-out!
Since my stance is considered dubious and sketchy by some, I hereby declare my demands and an urgent call for a protest at the Karachi Press Club and other venues:
MY STANCE
I unequivocally condemn the violent attack of 8th April 2009 on arts, culture, and our freedom, and stand in solidarity with all voices of resistance
MY DEMANDS
1. Complete withdrawal of the FIR
2. Protection to be guaranteed to the organizers of the festival and the artist
3. Action to be taken by the government against the attackers
4. Retraction of the government’s statement supporting the armed attack on civilians
I fully agree and further demand that Mr Mehdi’s reaction (as a spokesperson for the PPP on this incident – and quoted on mypost) be challenged. We cannot let art be subject to biased censorships by parties/governments. This is tantamount to giving free rein to fascism.
If the current situation was a result of an error of judgment, then the organizers have apologized and will have learnt from it. The world has not come crumbling down through this act. And certainly not while worse is taking place all around our country. Hounding the artist or the organizers is no different from the acts of the Taliban that the government supposedly opposes.
I fully condemn the violence against art and culture, the freedom of anyone to express their thoughts.
BUT people who host events and festivals for the PUBLIC have a huge responsibility – not to offend/hurt/insult anyone – as intelligent individuals we should also know when NOT to instigate a situation.
the image of the offending poster that is circulating the internet – is not only offensive but in extremely poor taste and has no artistic, historical or even satirical value. it was offensive just to people who saw it as a blog – i am not surprised that it caused that kind of a reaction in the general masses.
[...] In Complete Solidarity- Beanz [...]
@ Zakintosh
“Hounding the artist or the organizers is no different from the acts of the Taliban” ,
That is so true !
The rowdy, illiterate, ugly demeanor that was applied on the 8th of April was utterly UNACCEPTABLE. Okay, granted the art was objectionable, BUT this inhuman, “gunda” behavior is in no way justified. I’m sure IF the alleged political party would have asked CAP in a courteous manner they would have taken down the picture and apologized (for which they have repeatedly done) AND we would have had some semblance of respect for Pakistan’s political parties. BUT NO! The political party had to remind us that they still have in no way reformed to any notion of a civic sense and are still for a lack of a better term, animals !
Your demands are justified but what can you expect from this beloved party of the people? My take on the fiasco is very simple. The concerned image that did it all should not have been allowed for exhibition in the first place. We all know what sort these ppl are and since they are in the govt, they are much stronger. We all know how sensitive politics and religion as subjects are in this society. We may not like it but it is a fact. Sad but true. So why then touch these subjects in a manner so brazen?
Yes the FIR is uncalled for, absolutely so when CAP even offered public apology. I only hope sanity and sense prevail.
We all are with you and hope to see T2F revive in the most befitting manner sooner than expected.
i totally agree with Zakintosh…
how the whole fiasco on that piece was done was also a ruthless act…BUT the oraganizers should be more careful in the begining rather thn by the end whn all had happened & the apology session was started, they should hve been sure about what kind of entries are coming in such a Grand festival which speak ’17 crore dillon ki Shanaakht’ which stands for the identity or our COUNTRY…
the image was pretty OFFENSIVE not only to the pro-PARTY ppl also to any other person…by saying that art and culture should be given FREEDOM, i would say if this sort of freedom everyone is talking about that i think we are misjudging the word itself…this is not freedom its open insult…BUT what is done is done we cannot change it…now here the question arises…wht NEXT?…do we all NOT want SHANAAKHT to be back?…can we take off the word CANCEL and replace it with POSTPONE or something?…coz because of this one artist and her one disgusting piece not everything has to judged in the same criteria…
Im one the most loyal friends of CAP, i think thr whole idea about CAP itself and Shanaakht is brilliant,
what happened two days back was bad…Ive been reading a lot about it, people commenting on the fact the PPP has become like Taliban n stuff and thr whole act was outrageous n all…i partly agree with that BUT just calm down and look at the other side of the picture, look at the OFFENSIVE piece tht so-called artist made in the name of ‘freedom of speech and expression’…
y dint the CAP ppl checked the entries that were coming to them b4 putting them on a festival which was on such a grand scale?…
How is it possible tht this one entry skipped out of thr eyes?….
And wht are these VASL ppl upto, we dnt even see and not even hear any statement from thm apologizing or anything?…
whr is that WOMAN(artist) who made this photo montage gone?…
that art piece which was offensive, it made me so angry after looking at it, y wont the party workers be like wht they did …just imagine if something related to MQM’S leader would be in it what would’ve happen?…damaging would be a very small thing thn…
so YES wht happen shouldn’t hve happend in the first place BUT that piece was also disgusting and thr should be some serious action taken on VASL and that artist not on sharmeen or CAP…coz VASL is also a big name our biggest artist are involve with it, were they sleeping?, iam sure not coz thy also think its a right to show ur opnion BULL SHIT to this freedom…Im an artist myself and i dnt agree that this is some kind of ethical thing to do…
I stand by your observation that the placement of that particular piece in the context of the festival was an act of of utter stupidity. As an artist and designer, I can somewhat grudgingly admire the piece for being a rather blunt and scathing satirical commentary on Pakistani politics in general – what I cannot fathom is why this particular piece was placed in a festival celebrating unity and hope. It is a sad observation that yes, our artists do live in a sense of disconnect with the world at large.
Not withstanding, I can understand that VASL would be terrified at the thought of censorship being imposed on all future endeavors, not to mention the safety of the artists involved, but it would have been prudent if more attention had been paid to the context in which the artworks were to be displayed (and there were several pieces that worked at cross-purposes to the theme and vision of the festival).
@ ak and jz
Yes, u are right! The picture was really objectionable and rather distasteful. The picture certainly did not blend in with the overall theme that Shanaakht that presented that day.
BUT!!!
The Political party’s actions are certainly not justified. I mean okay! They have a right to be angry , but come on !! Terrorizing, hundreds of people, and vandalizing the place is not a balanced outcome. If they had teared down JUST that objectionable picture, ONLY it we would respect the political party, but this was simple “gunda gardi”.
@ak … nuff said about the picture being offensive to some of us. but it may be pleasing to others. the artist is perfectly at liberty to express her views. just as you are. despite the fact that i am offended by your tone and the suggestion that serious action be taken against anyone.
surely you don’t think CAP, VASL and all others who worked so hard for this festival of unity are anti-PPP or BB-haters. I recall the grieved reactions of some among them when BB was murdered.
so, ok. someone goofed. we’ve all (including me) had our knee-jerk reactions, many without access to the full facts and fed by distorted media reports. but let’s move forward.
CAP’s wonderful work must go on. The festival must take place soon … rather than later, WITH government protection and no censorship by a particular party. Self censorship after discussions within CAP and other participants is what is right.
VASL must participate and carry on their projects that include a great deal of experimental work.
A date must be set for the Press Club protest and PPP leadership, instead of further placating their party members (they’ve already done that over these days) must attend it and unequivocally & unconditionally announce support for all forms of art, while apologizing to the festival attendees who were mistreated by some of its jiyaalaas and for the goods that were damaged or stolen that night.
Picture is not offensive to anyone of us I suppose. It is offensive only to those in power.. they are goondas, they have no respect for anyone or anything.. they dont care two hoots about art and identity. Thats the tragedy. As a society, we havent evolved really. Nevertheless, the incident should not pull anyone down. It was an oversight yes but this should not become the reason for a complete wrap up. Shanaakht must return. It should rebound with a bigger bang now.
[...] In Complete Solidarity- Beanz [...]
@jz – As a Muslim woman, and a Sindhi, I found that picture vulgar and in very poor taste. I might add that I’m not in power anywhere. I did not feel that the piece spoke to MY identity; however, I would not demand that it be taken down because if I want to protest, I’ll use the power of my words, rather than the power of my fists or the barrel of a gun.
I stand by my earlier assertion that with art must come social responsibility. We must look to the moderate path: not bend to demands of blatant censorship, but not succumb to the narcissism of “my art, at any cost”. In the crucible of our city and nation and the time we live in, and given that the Shenaakht Festival was not just about art but also about society, culture, and identity, this balance is more vital than ever.
@zak – sorry for the earlier confusion of identity! I misread the names.
Sabeen I completely agree. We as a people need to stand up and stand beside CAP, VASL and Nilofer Akmut showing our solidarity. That is if we want history,art and culture to thrive in Pakistan for our future generations. CAP truly is doing phenomenal work and it is unfair that the organisation and sharmeen have to go through this fiasco. I really can not wait to come back to Pakistan at the end of this month and work at CAP again.
I am not offended by it. And personally I think we should not put any qualifiers with any art form.. its just that when we go out to do a public display that we have to exercise restraint, caution and use common sense to decide what qualifies to be displayed considering how sensitive people are specially when it comes to religion and politics.
Otherwise, art is all about expression and everyone should have the freedom to express any and everything.. no restrictions, no boundaries..
Do join everyone at the KPC at 4:30 to protest against the vandalism
http://teeth.com.pk/blog/2009/04/13/press-conference-at-kpc-against-the-vandalism-arts-council-430pm-shanaakht