Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
So I guess it would be alright for the Spaniards to destroy remnants of Islamic heritage by that logic?
What remnants of Islamic heritage?
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
It must be just me, but i don't understand half of what is posted in the General forum anymore.
PS. my youth passed me by so quick. sigh
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
You know, the problem was not that these early British sculptures were taken off the streets. The problem is that they weren't replaced by local artwork. That's what these maulvis do - they just take away culture, rather than refining it to an Islamic tune. Islam doesn't say "no art". It just has some limitations. Islamic art flourishes in other countries. Just look at the Haram in Mecca and the Masjid al-Nabi in Medina - the artwork on these masjids is to die for! Obviously, art is not a sin.
I'm glad the city is commissioning art work. The city needs something it can identify as icons to be proud of.
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
You know, the problem was not that these early British sculptures were taken off the streets. The problem is that they weren't replaced by local artwork. That's what these maulvis do - they just take away culture, rather than refining it to an Islamic tune. Islam doesn't say "no art". It just has some limitations. Islamic art flourishes in other countries. Just look at the Haram in Mecca and the Masjid al-Nabi in Medina - the artwork on these masjids is to die for! Obviously, art is not a sin.
I'm glad the city is commissioning art work. The city needs something it can identify as icons to be proud of.
Or look at Safavid art.
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
Good post. :k:
The Land of Islaam was known for it’s beautiful arts and architecture, during the past the European royalty would hire our craftsmen and bring them to Europe to add a bit of color and style to their otherwise drab landscape.
bullehshah, Persian architecture is beautiful, Central-Asian Mosques in general are gorgeous with their blue tiles and geometrical designs, our village Mosque is in that style.
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
I don't mean to confuse anyone into thinking I believe our artwork should echo only what we've seen made in the past. Art would not be art without experimentation and breaking artistic rules. But like I said, there are limitations. You don't want statues of people adorning the city, because you want everyone to feel equal (obviously Karachi needs more than artwork to accomplish that), but you don't want the art to add to the increasing class-divisions.
Therefore, if someone makes a modern-type sculpture of a surah or geometric design or abstract design, etc, then I don't see it as being a bad thing, even if the traditional blue tiles and chamki is missing.
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
Religous idiots... Nothing has harmed the country more then them. They should put each and every statue back up and let those a hole Fantic rats come out and try to take them down... Atleast it will be enough to get them out of their holes, making it easier to throw them in jail or better yet, beat their ass.
What on earth do we need statues of some colonizers for? That's not a nice period of our history. They're right on the statues.
As for public art suffering under Zia...I seem to recall massive portraits of the good ol dictator :D
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
^ That's the thing. Art should be from the artist, a reflection on the times and society and sentiments and values.
Putting up your own poster everywhere as a dictator is NOT real art.
Interestingly, today's "dictator" isn't painting the town red with his pictures.
I don't understand why anyone would want to see statues of the Queen, etc on display in Karachi - why? To constantly remind yourself that you really wish you were still british? Oh hold on. We weren't ever british. We were just their *%^$'s.
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
Why do you lot label anyone who doesn't agree with your opnion a fanatic and extremist?
Because it suits my purpose...
Honestly, any idiot going around knocking over statues, pubic property that is, that they think are Unislamic is by any definition, taking EXTREME measures... The reason the Artist is afrain of putting these statues back on display is because of fear from backlash, not from moserates, but from religous fanatics.
And last I checked, an extremist is someone willing to resort to extreme measures is an EXTREMIST!
Its not that they dont agree with me, but that their actions are those of EXTREMISTS!
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
What on earth do we need statues of some colonizers for? That's not a nice period of our history. They're right on the statues.
As for public art suffering under Zia...I seem to recall massive portraits of the good ol dictator :D
Well, while we are at it, lets also destroy our canals, and our rails, and completely destroy anything else the British left us...
In fact, anything that reminds anyone of being colonized or subjugated should be torn down and destroyed...
We should even encourage the Hindus to knock down the Taj and Red Fort while were at it! And lets also applaud the destruction of the Babri Masjid by the way, its only fair! :D
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
The fact that religious fanatics/extremists are anti-art is very true; they want to erase all culture off the face of this earth except Arab culture, which probably explains why surprise surprise so much of their work is commissioned by Arabs.
However, to compare a statue of a ruler who subjugated your population with a railway that transports and helps your people earn their livlihood and live life in general is invalid. There is simply no parallel, because there are so many differences. One is art that makes a statement, another is an invention to be used to make human life easier. Nothing is stopping Pakistanis from inventing, right, so if they invent something, it can easily be used across the globe. But what use does a statue of an old Queen have that caused so much distress to your ancestors?
If anything, I agree on not completely shattering it to pieces. Maybe take it off the street and put it in a museum as a historical artifact. But to suggest that Pakistanis line their streets with statues of European heroes of yesteryear is as ridiculous as suggesting to London to put up a statue of the Quaid in their courtyards.
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
Well, while we are at it, lets also destroy our canals, and our rails, and completely destroy anything else the British left us...
You're not serious, are you? Who the hell built those things? No doubt a British relief agency, chalk full of British volunteers. My, what wonderful masters our colonizers were.
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In fact, anything that reminds anyone of being colonized or subjugated should be torn down and destroyed...
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Those we haven’t' taken ownership of, and that was imposed on us. Yeah.
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We should even encourage the Hindus to knock down the Taj and Red Fort
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Red Fort...who cares. Taj should never have been built, and only serves to remind us that our retarded Muslim rulers would sooner build opulent places for their dead wives than feed their own masses. Seems like nothing has changed since. No, let's keep it as a monument to our own stupidity. We're so idiotic, we need reminders.
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while were at it! And lets also applaud the destruction of the Babri Masjid by the way, its only fair!
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As that building wasn't in use or anything...
Re: Karachi bids to revive heritage ravaged by extremism
Putting up your own poster everywhere as a dictator is NOT real art.
Not by a long shot. Actually, they were on huge billboards on almost every street corner. The common theme was, of course, Zia...the benevolent leader. Probably there for the poor, illiterate masses as an indication of who the current leader was. I was told prior to Zia, it was Bhutto's picture on those billboards.