The opening of a new art gallery –The Collectors Galleria, at the Alhamra Cultural Complex is an occasion in its own self. It augurs well for the soul of artists and poses as an advantage for all art lovers as well. The Galleria is the culmination of many years of introspection and association of Mahnaz Sukhera with fine arts. She has extensively traveled a long, exciting yet arduous journey from the comparatively carefree security of a passionate art collector to the competitive world of an enthusiastic gallery owner.

The choice of venue is inspirational. Located and built on a site that with the opening of this gallery seems to have achieved its true potential. The new space now underlines and reflects the purpose for which the Alhamra Cultural Complex was essentially conceived. It happily replaces the bifurcated attempts of small commercial shops that were struggling to cater to the intellectual demands of a large burgeoning population. It has been discernable over the years that this gradually developed an awareness of its rich cultural heritage and has increasingly demanded a higher level of aesthetics from art galleries.

Languishing behind a pleasing row of arcades and veranda, the gallery provides exceptionally well constructed and well lit spaces for display. The opening exhibition included the display of an assortment of collective works of around fifty revered artists of Pakistan brought together form all over the country. The display is a tribute to the artists as well as the gallery for its effort at bringing undiscovered art to the its lovers.

The list of the artists makes an impressive reading. It spans the decades as it sets the works of artists like Sadequain, Gulgee, Jamil Naqsh, Ijazul Hussain, Saeed Akhtar, Eqbal Mehdi, Wahab Jaffer, Ahmed Khan Zulqarnain Haider, Raja Changez, Ghulam Rasul, Mansoor Rahi, Nasir Ahmed, Abid Ali, Mona Naqsh and Khalid Mahmud with the relatively younger artists like Shahid Jalal, Ghulam Mustafa, Iqbal Hussain, Rahat Naveed Massod, Shahnawaz Zaidi, Kalim Khan, Mashkoor Raza, Mahboob Ali, Zara David, Zulfiqar Zulfi, Moazzam Ali, Abdul Hayee, Chitra Pritam and many others.

The dazzle of the new gallery may wear out in time. But we can only hope that the determination and enthusiasm of the owner of this brand new gallery continues to sustain the ability to give the sensitive viewers of Lahore something to cherish and remember each time they travel the congested roads to view art that is on display at The Collectors Galleria.

Dr. Musarrat Hassan
December 2007