[dt_gap height=”15″ /]
German artist Manolo Ty photographs beautiful moments from lives of common Pakistanis in his book ‘Pakistan Now’
[dt_gap height=”10″ /]
Pakistan’s cultural diversity, spectacular heritage, and resilience of common Pakistanis have been beautifully captured by German artist Manolo Ty.
Manolo Ty’s coffee table book titled “Pakistan Now” was launched in Islamabad at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Islamabad. The National Art Gallery, which collaborated with Mr. Ty, also displayed some of his photographs.
Shot using a Canon 5D with a 50mm prime lens, it took Mr. Ty three years to compile the images into his book.
The book is a fine blend of distinctive aspects of Pakistan captured in a montage of 276 images shot at 25 locations across Pakistan along with real life stories and unique experiences of Ty’s intimate journey in a strange territory. The images were captured between 2013 and 2014 when Ty first visited Pakistan.
At a time when terror and insecurity deter many from visiting Pakistan, Ty has changed this daunting view forever with his photographic journey. “The world just needed to see Pakistan the way I saw it – colourful, full of diversity and with different eyes,” he said.
Pakistan’s enthralling culture, stunning landscape, resilient and hospitable people and ethnic diversity, as viewed in the book, will continue to fascinate the viewers as much as it did Ty.
“Living with a tribal elder in troubled Peshawar, being sucked into mystical Sufi Nights in Lahore or getting lost in the Cholistan desert; those were the times when I learned to see the country with different eyes. It did not take much to fall in love with Pakistan”, says the German artist, Manolo Ty.
Photographs of the archaeological heritage of Lahore, sparkling seaside and camel rides of Karachi, ship-breaking factories and the landscape of southern Pakistan have been most appreciated.
[dt_quote type=”pullquote” layout=”left” font_size=”normal” animation=”none” size=”3″]“It did not take much to fall in love with Pakistan”, says Manolo Ty[/dt_quote]
During his stay of 2 months in Pakistan, Manolo Ty was on the road capturing the images of far-flung rural and urban areas. He documented his journey from Karachi to Khyber, visiting many cities and towns in between such as Gadani, Thatta, Sukkur, Larkana, Mohen Jo Daro, the Cholistan Desert, Bahawalpur, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi and the capital city Islamabad.
“The diversity and archaeological heritage are simply breathtaking. I would urge Pakistanis to take ownership and preserve it,” he said.
[dt_gap height=”10″ /]
[dt_gap height=”10″ /]
Ty has visited 97 countries in which he showcased his exquisite work in 60 exhibitions across the globe. However, the German artist says that Pakistan as his favorite place to photograph, because of its diversity, culture and people.
Jamal Shah, Director General at PNCA, sharing his views about Ty’s work said that Ty’s work reflects the real life in Pakistanis, the real image of Pakistan and its art, culture and emotions. “He is not a technical person that is what makes him human and the images so natural” he said.
The price of the photographic book ‘Pakistan Now‘ is PKR 5600.