CHAUBURJI INTERPRETATION CENTER of Art (CICA)

Abstract

A plethora of entities make up the cultural fabric and heritage of Lahore, whether it's the inner core, the androon shehr, or beyond. Chauburji, a Mughal monument left from Shah Jahan's era, is one such entity. Translating into the "four-towers" Chauburji was previously gateway to a former expansive garden. Through the years it has been subjected to the changing times of both man and nature. Yet it is the current scenario that we see that has perhaps, the most significant and lasting impact: It falls along the route of the Orange Line, as part of the automated rapid transit system in Lahore. With ever growing functional and social pressures comes the fear of cultural loss or fragmentation of any region rich in traditional arts and crafts. Whether it is the physical process of the Orange Line construction in the locality or the end result in visual hierarchy in the context of Chauburji, we have seen and continue to experience a disparity between these two bodies. The project aims to explore the dialogue between different art forms, both the traditional, such as the fresco-work of Chauburji, and the rising contemporary in the region, to enhance the understanding and value of cultural heritage. The concept of "Surreal-Scaping", based on the dystopian loss of local heritage values provides a common ground for both the old and the new. The art of surrealism itself can be further categorized into further levels, which allow creative interpretation of the heritage of Chauburji itself. Thus creating a synergy within such values, leading to the identity of place.