Calligraphy workshop, Sufi music at Alhamra.

LAHORE -- A workshop on calligraphy and Sufi music evening were main features on the second day of the International Islamic Art Festival at the Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, on Friday.

Scholars read out papers on various topics at the conference being held here by the Lahore Arts Council and the Pakistan Arts Council, Karachi. The four-day event being marked in pursuance of Unesco's dedication of Nov 18 to the Islamic art festival will conclude on Sunday (tomorrow).

Intellectuals and artists from Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran are participating in the festival. The historical journey of 1,400 years of Islamic sciences and arts is being celebrated through seminars, exhibitions, workshops, Qawwali programmes, bookstalls and other activities.

Calligraphists from Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are participating. An exhibition of Islamic art having rare manuscripts of the Holy Quran, Quranic illuminated pages, art pieces of old masters and artworks by established artists are on display.

At a session, 'Framework of Aesthetics', which was moderated by Dr Sumera Jawad, Principal College of Art and Design, University of the Punjab, the speakers discussed various aspects of aesthetics in the Islamic art. Prof Dr Mamoona Khan, chairperson Fine Arts Department, Fatima Jinnah University for Women, Islamabad read out the paper on 'Human and Humanism, Conceptions and Misconceptions on Muslim Aesthetics'. She threw light on theories of Muslim and non-Muslim thinkers. She also discussed Plato's theory of creation. She dilated upon the concept of Wahdat and Wajood and showed a number of miniature paintings during her lecture.

She said the Islamic art should be perceived not only through eyes but also through heart.

Rabiya...