War in the Country, but Solidarity with Gaza
Silk Road Cultural Centre, Islamabad | 7 May 2025
The eight-day “Art for Life – Art for Gaza” artists’ camp, which began on 30 April 2025 at the Silk Road Cultural Centre, concluded on 7 May with an emotional and inspiring closing ceremony. The event featured impressive performances across various art forms, including music, dance, and painting, culminating in a large charity auction attended by both local and international guests.
The closing ceremony was graced by the ambassadors of Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Qatar, and Romania, along with cultural representatives from China and Iran. Guests also included members from French cultural organizations and the film industry. They viewed and purchased artworks displayed at the center, many of which had already been sold.
A highlight of the evening was the live shadow painting on illuminated canvases by renowned artists, with the celebrated artist Jamal Shah making a surprise appearance and participating without prior announcement. These paintings were accompanied by live music and dance, offering a beautiful fusion of visual and performing arts. Furthermore, artworks created during the camp — including paintings, calligraphy, origami, and sculpture — were put up for auction, with proceeds going to the victims of Gaza through the Palestinian Embassy.
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Earlier, Miran Malik and Zeeshan Usman Khattak, an emerging film maker and an established RJ hosted a special session featuring a blend of Pakistani and Palestinian music, short plays, and performances by young and prominent artists. Participants included children from City School, students from the NUML Music Society, singer Arieb Azhar, and the 360 Degrees band. Asif Khan Group’s elegiac dance, and Medi’s Sufi rock and spoken word pieces, were highly appreciated by the audience. The SRCC Drum Circle delivered a remarkable drumming performance on a Palestinian song.
The event concluded on a somber note, as India had violated Pakistani airspace earlier that night. Despite this, all artists and participants remained united in their message of peace, justice, and solidarity.
“Art for Life – Art for Gaza” was a non-funded initiative of the Silk Road Cultural Centre, led by renowned artist Jamal Shah. Its aim was to express solidarity with the people of Palestine through the arts. People of all ages and backgrounds participated, spreading a message of dialogue, empathy, and support through artistic expression.
