White in the Flag, a Promise Forgotten Celebrates Diversity
By Perveen Ali
Photos by Annie Athar
Real art, whether it is a photograph, a painting or a sculpture, is about making the ordinary something extraordinary. Traditionally, when one thinks of photography one thinks of unusual subjects and memorable moments to be captured and preserved forever. Photography has always been a tool to preserve memories; most think of it as a way of freezing a moment in time. Wondering why we are talking about photography? Well, on Sunday November 4th, the Pakistan Arts Council of the Pacific Asia Museum had photographer, painter, sculptor, author and filmmaker, Mobeen Ansari’s photography exhibition at the TAJ Art Gallery in Pasadena.
The exhibition consisted of photographs from Mobeen’s journey in his latest book ‘White in the Flag, a promise forgotten’ commemorating 70 plus years of Pakistan. It is thus poignant to note that the book is primarily a documentation and celebration of the nation’s ethnic and religious minorities.
The book explores the diversity, depth and vibrancy of the multitude of religions, cultures, and subcultures that make up the fabric of Pakistan. Mobeen’s journey, for the book, took him across the parched deserts in Sindh, to the pristine mountains of the North, to the many temples and places of worship and gave him the opportunity to interact with people of all faiths. After traveling around the country to capture images, Mobeen was able to immortalize those images in this book which took him seven years to complete.
The religious diversity in Pakistan is a testament to Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s dream of making the country a haven for all, regardless of religion, with the freedom to practice what they believe in. The white in our flag is as much a part of Pakistan as the green is. With Mobeen Ansari’s book, the message is clear: the White in the Flag represents inclusion and is to be celebrated. It symbolizes the country’s commitment to the rights of all minorities not to be forgotten.
Pakistan Arts Council had also arranged for the screening of Mobeen’s latest film ‘Lady of the Emerald Scarf’. Set in the heart of Gulmit village in Gilgit Baltistan (Northern Pakistan), it is a short silent film which follows a day in the life of Aziza, a carpet maker and shepherd, spread through winter and spring seasons. It explores her relationship with her surroundings, with the focus on the symbology of emerald, the color of her scar. His first film “Hell hole” based on the life of the sewer cleaners was screened at the Seattle South Asian film festival, New Orleans film festival, and Jaipur International film festival.
Récipient of numerous honors and recognitions, Mobeen Ansari was born on 29 November 1986 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. At the age of nine, Ansari had meningitis and lost his hearing. In 2003, he took up photography as a hobby, and that was the start to a fabulous career. In March 2015, Mobeen published his first book of photography, Dharkan – The Heartbeat of a Nation, which was also launched in Southern California in 2015 by the Pakistan Arts Council. The ‘White in the Flag’ is his second book.
“White in the Flag was my journey into the various communities residing across Pakistan. I traveled nationwide, observing people in their different habitats and places of worship in every nook and cranny of urban cities. Whether it was witnessing the colors of Holi at the mandirs of Tharparkar, listening to hymns during Sunday mass at Saint Anthony’s Church in Lahore, or joining in on the festivities of Chowmos, a Kalash festival – I have been able to see, capture and celebrate diversity. While interacting and living with different communities, I learnt a lot more about my country and the coexistence of different faiths within it. And my learning made me want to share my share with everyone through this book.”
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