Lala Rukh (activist)

Lala Rukh (1948 – 2017), was a prominent Pakistani teacher, women's rights activist and artist who was known as founder of Women's Action Forum.[1][2]

This article is about the Pakistani activist. For other uses of similar names, see Lalla Rookh (disambiguation).

Lala Rukh
Born29 June 1948
Lahore, Pakistan
Died7 July 2017
Lahore, Pakistan
Occupation(s)Artist and Women's rights activist

Education and Career

Rukh did Masters in Fine Arts at University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan and University of Chicago, USA. She taught at Punjab University, Department of Fine Art for thirty years and at the National College of Arts,[3] Lahore where, in 2000, she started MA (Hons) Visual Art Program.[4][5] She was awarded various government travel grants in Pakistan to study in Turkey and Afghanistan.[6]

Art Work

Rukh's art work has minimalist and meditative expressions.[7] Her work, "Mirror Image, 1, 2, 3, 1997" (a collage) were acquired by Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City in January, 2020.[8][9] Editions of her work, "Rupak, 2016" (the digital animation) now belong in Tate Modern (London),[10] Samdani Art Foundation (Bangladesh), Art Jameel Collection (Dubai) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City).[11]

She was founder of All Pakistan Music Conference (1959),[12] Vasl artists trust (2000),[13][14] and Grey Noise gallery.[15]

In 2017, Rukh's works were exhibited in Kassel, Germany in contemporary art exhibition documenta 14.[16][17] Her works have also been exhibited in China,[18] Athens Conservatoire, Greece in 2017,[19] at Kunsthaus Centre D’Art Pasquart, Switzerland in 2017, at Centre Pompidou, France in 2018, at Punta della Dogana, Venice in 2019 and in three cities of England.[20]

Feminist activist

Rukh was founding member of Women’s Action Forum (WAF).[21][22] She was among fifteen members who founded WAF in 1981.[23][24] As an activist and campaigner, she spoke for the rights of women and many minorities and women. She also took part in the women’s protest against martial law of Dictator Ziaul Haq. For her political activities, she was also sent to jail at that time.[25] She was against the implementation of the Hudood Ordinance penal code considering it as discriminatory against women.[26] Again during the Musharaf's dictatorship, when Emergency 2007 was imposed, she got arrested with other 50 WAF members.[27][28]

Rukh as active member of WAF, used her art to highlight community, women’s rights and issues.[29] In Lahore, when local printers on the orders of government refused to print the newsletters and protest material. Rukh began producing, designing and printing many of the WAF’s posters that were demanding freedom and equal rights for women. Her collection of feminist art "Crimes Against Women" originates from this group of posters.[30]

She was also part of the "Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD)".[3]

Rukh never married and adopted her sister’s daughter Mariam. Rukh was diagnosed with cancer in June 2017 and died on 7 July 2017 (69 years age).[2]

References
  1. "Veteran activist Lala Rukh's demise mourned – Pakistan – Dunya News".
  2. Gabol, Imran (7 July 2017). "WAF activist and artist Lala Rukh passes away in Lahore".
  3. "Veteran activist Lala Rukh breathes her last". The Express Tribune. 7 July 2017.
  4. "Lala Rukh". Karachi Biennale 2017.
  5. "Lala Rukh (1948–2017)". www.artforum.com.
  6. "Art Radar celebrates Lala Rukh".
  7. "Lala Rukh – Introduction by Natasha Ginwala".
  8. "The Met Acquires Works by Pakistani Artist Lala Rukh". www.metmuseum.org.
  9. "The Met Adds Works by Pakistani Artist Lala Rukh to Its Collection". www.artforum.com.
  10. "Lala Rukh: Panel Discussion – Talk at Online Event". Tate.
  11. "Resonance: After Lala Rukh". The Friday Times. 27 December 2019.
  12. "Celebrating Artist, Activist and Teacher Lala Rukh on International Women's Day". www.ruyamaps.org.
  13. Ahmed, Shoaib (8 July 2017). "Rights activist, art teacher Lala Rukh passes away". DAWN.COM.
  14. "Artist and prominent activist Lala Rukh passes away". The Express Tribune. 8 July 2017.
  15. "What Is the Most Iconic Artwork of the 21st Century? 14 Art Experts Weigh In". artnet News. 29 September 2017.
  16. "Lala Rukh – Documenta 14".
  17. "These Are the 8 Unmissable Highlights of documenta 14 in Kassel". artnet News. 9 June 2017.
  18. "Five Women Artists". South Asia Institute.
  19. "In Memoriam: Lala Rukh (1948–2017)".
  20. "Lala Rukh's presence echoes wide at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum". Daily Times. 25 January 2020.
  21. "Lala Rukh passes away". The Nation. 8 July 2017.
  22. "Pakistani icon Lala Rukh remembered on her birthday | SAMAA". Samaa TV.
  23. Ahmed, Shoaib (7 November 2017). "Commemorating the life of Lala Rukh, artist and activist extraordinaire". DAWN.COM.
  24. "Women's Action Forum national convention, Lahore 1982". a lib dem in international development. 17 November 2006.
  25. "Iconic women's rights activist Lala Rukh laid to rest". The Nation. 7 July 2017.
  26. "WAF activist, artist Lala Rukh passes away".
  27. Dakshita, Singh; Kothari, Shamini; Rukh, Lala (8 July 2015). "LALA FROM LAHORE (Part 1)". zubaanbooks.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017.
  28. Dakshita, Singh; Kothari, Shamini; Rukh, Lala (9 July 2015). "LALA FROM LAHORE (Part 2)". zubaanbooks.com. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  29. "Reclaiming History:A Feminist Story".
  30. "Crimes against Women". www.metmuseum.org.
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