‘Surkh gulaban dey mausam wich phulaan dey rang kaaley’ (Black Spring) is a public Art Project by Awami Art Collective (AAC); that mohsin shafi is core member of. The project is taking place at Taxali Gate in the Walled City of Lahore, Pakistan. The project is Curated by Lavinia Fillipi and Amanda Masha Caminals as part of Project_16 (London). 

The installation is a web of lights that traverse the roofs of old city homes where once the Basant (kite flying festival) used to take place. The lights which can be see from roof tops make a web in the old city to remember Basant. The urban development projects taken up in Lahore have, and are increasingly changing the very character of Lahore at the expense of footpaths, trees, street vendors and cultural life of various neighborhoods. Forlornly, these urban development projects do not care for the city as a living organism with its ethos, culture, traditions, and heritage.


Watch 12:27 minutes video documentation about the relationship created by members of the Awami Art Collective with the local residents who actively participated to the making of the work. The installation can be understood as a running commentary on the urban development projects affecting the city and its inhabitants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCyRE_emp3s

Watch a brief introductory video clip of the project here.

https://vimeo.com/154420939

Below are some links for the articles on 'Black Spring' Project.  

http://www.dawn.com/news/1238962/calling-basant-back-from-the-rooftop

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1046479/missing-festivity-lost-charms-of-basant/

http://www.dawn.com/news/1239388

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​