L AHORE: The 35th national exhibition of the Artists Association of Punjab (AAP) opened at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, on Wednesday.

The event attracted a good number of visual art lovers.

The exhibition offered a good number of artworks in all mediums. The artists, whose work was on display at the exhibition, termed the show a great event and an occasion of get-together with seasoned and emerging artists.

The show was inaugurated by President of the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, Ahmed Shah. Executive Director Alhamra Zulfiqar AliZulfi curated the exhibition.

Officials and members of the Artists Association of Punjab, eminent artists Mian Ijazul Hasan, Ghulam Mustafa, Dr Rahat Naveed Masood, Ali Azmat, Amina Pataudi, RM Naeem and others also participated in the opening ceremony.

The show featured around 300 artworks by 200 artists from 18 cities. Renowned artist Mian Ijazul Hasan said: `Our entire focus is on the young generation.` Executive Director Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi said AAP had been successfully continuing this journey for the last 35 years.

President of Arts Council Pakistan Ahmad Shah said such initiatives strengthen the morale of young artists.

Renowned artist Ghulam Mustafa noted that the Artists Association of Punjab deserves congratulations for organising such a fantastic exhibition.

Apart from the show, a ceremony was also organised at Alhamra in which artists explored the present-day scenario of art and threw light on the works on display.

They discussed the visual art at length. The artists through their works threw light on the current day issues. The socio-political fabric of the country was well depicted through the artworks in different mediums.

A large number of artists, students from different institutions and other guests attended the exhibition.

The event will continue till Feb 9. Staff Reporter