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    Asim Butt - Remembering the 'Rebel Angel'

    Review of Launch of Asim Butt's Monograph 'The Rebel Angel' at Khaas Gallery Islamabad

    Written by: Amna Javed
    Posted on: April 01, 2015 | | 中文

    Asim Butt - The Rebel Angel

    Khaas Gallery, on Wednesday, hosted the launch of Asim’s monograph, ‘The Rebel Angel’, in Islamabad. Rebel Angel is a monograph based on the artworks of the late painter, graffiti artist, activist and muralist Asim Butt.

    Prior to the discussion, the event featured a video depicting the artist’s journey around the country for his street art as well as his views and contemplations in relation to art, religion, politics and humanity. The video clips had been taken from Adrian Fisk’s documentation of Asim Butt’s journey of political graffiti through Pakistan.

    Butt’s mother, Amna Zahid briefly commented on the monograph, which celebrates her son’s contribution to the world of contemporary art. “The book is entirely family funded, and all book sales will be donated to ‘Asim Butt Trust’, which is dedicated to helping the underprivileged, particularly in the fields of health and education,” she said.

    Review of Launch of Asim Butt's Monograph 'The Rebel Angel' at Khaas Gallery Islamabad

    Monograph based on Asim Butt's artworks was launched before a packed hall, here at Khaas Art gallery, Islamabad

    This was followed by a panel discussion on Asim Butt’s works and life by art critics and friends Aasim Akhtar, Nafisa Rizvi and Sheherbano Hussain. Aasim Akhtar spoke, in great detail, about how their camaraderie grew with the passage of time. He talked about his interactions with Butt, their student-teacher relationship and his critique of Asim’s artwork. To sum up his musings, Akhtar read out a three-page letter that Asim Butt had written to honor him once the term at college ended. 

    Sheherbano Hussain, a fellow artist as well as a close of friend of Asim, said, “He made his work subversive; Asim went against the grain when he painted.” Hussain deliberated on how Asim got himself into trouble for painting on the streets, but remained undeterred by it. She also shared details of Stuckism (an International Art Movement) and how Asim founded the Karachi Stuckist Group.

    Art critic, Nafisa Rizvi, (who also edited the book) elucidated how she felt that it was important to document Asim’s work for the generations to come and for them to discover his art. Unlike the artists of today, who work nine-to-five, Asim’s artwork meant everything to him. “He [Asim] always expressed a desire to read and learn more. The fact was that he had read and learnt more than most people he knew. This self doubt is what reflected in him as humility,” added Rizvi.

    Friends, colleagues and family, who had gathered to celebrate the late artist, expressed that it is hard to imagine what feats he would have achieved in the world of art, had he not died at such a young age of 32.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021