Bagh-e-Jinnah (Lawrence Gardens) | Rooted/پیوستہ

Lahore is historically known as the City of Gardens. From Mughal monuments such as Shalimar Gardens and Hazuri Bagh, to magnificent examples from the colonial era like Bagh-e-Jinnah (formerly Lawrence Gardens) that envelopes the present-day Quaid-e-Azam Library, and also Jilani Park (formerly Race Course Park), green spaces have always been a central feature of Lahore’s urban fabric. Using that as a point of departure, the project aims to draw on local heritage by employing an approach that engages the surrounding community. Some of the questions that emerge are: How relevant are parks to Lahore in terms of heritage, at present? How are parks used and what can ‘art in the park’ add to one’s experience of it? And more broadly, what is the purpose of art in public spaces? We hope to find possible answers to such concerns in the form of a semi-permanent artistic intervention. 

Rooted / پیوستہ (Paivasta)
Rooted/پیوستہ (Paivasta) is a public art project at Bagh-e-Jinnah (Lawrence Gardens), Lahore. Curated and commissioned by the Lahore Biennale Foundation (LBF) and British Council Pakistan, with generous support from the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore, the project is second in the Art in Public Spaces series.

In December 2015, LBF and British Council Pakistan, sent out an open call inviting creative individuals and collectives in Pakistan to view Bagh-e-Jinnah through a critical lens, and submit proposals for an on-site, semi-permanent artistic intervention. The jury chose Lahore-based artists Unum Babar and Matt Kushan to work with Marc Cairns from the Glasgow-based creative studio Pidgin Perfect.

This collaborative artistic endeavor resulted in eight permanent artworks at various locations across the sprawling gardens; they reference, and have a resemblance to the heritage of Bagh-e-Jinnah itself. South of the Quaid-e-Azam Library, an Islamic star inlaid into the ground acts as a marble compass; a map leading the way to seven meticulously chosen sites. The destination of each of the seven routes is a Point of Contemplation, marked by a marble seat sited to inspire introspection and solitude. The project encourages the viewer to explore and personalize undiscovered spaces in the park dotted with rare and historic flora.

Project Launch
For the project launch on 3^rd June 2016, the artists invited Olomopolo Media, a Lahore-based theatre and cultural organization, to create a piece of art referencing and complimenting Rooted/Paivasta. Using the marble compass as a stage, a mime performance invited the audience to experience stories expressed through bodily movements set to a collage of sounds. Also on display were temporary sculptures referencing the shared history of motifs, fabrics and crafts of Glasgow and Lahore. These were created in Lahore by school children at Sanjan Nagar High School, in a workshop held by the artists themselves, supported by Rabtt.