coming from everyone thank you for having me here believe me I was young
having me here believe me I was young
having me here believe me I was young once many years ago and I used to ask
once many years ago and I used to ask
once many years ago and I used to ask these questions are we all satisfied
these questions are we all satisfied
these questions are we all satisfied with our lives have you all done
with our lives have you all done
with our lives have you all done something that we are proud of and lent
something that we are proud of and lent
something that we are proud of and lent about have you made a difference in our
about have you made a difference in our
about have you made a difference in our society do we think beyond the latest
society do we think beyond the latest
society do we think beyond the latest model of cars and cell phones what keeps
model of cars and cell phones what keeps
model of cars and cell phones what keeps us away from thinking about these things
us away from thinking about these things
us away from thinking about these things that really matter I’m sure that we are
that really matter I’m sure that we are
that really matter I’m sure that we are all capable of doing things which we are
all capable of doing things which we are
all capable of doing things which we are passionate about and I’m sure that we
passionate about and I’m sure that we
passionate about and I’m sure that we can all take up time for doing these
can all take up time for doing these
can all take up time for doing these things but what keeps us away from doing
things but what keeps us away from doing
things but what keeps us away from doing these things is the main question I
these things is the main question I
these things is the main question I think having a secure job a regular
think having a secure job a regular
think having a secure job a regular income is something which keeps us away
income is something which keeps us away
income is something which keeps us away from mostly following our passion we
from mostly following our passion we
from mostly following our passion we have fees to pay medical bills house
have fees to pay medical bills house
have fees to pay medical bills house trends and so on
trends and so on
trends and so on and having this in the back of our mind
and having this in the back of our mind
and having this in the back of our mind is something which really lets us stay
is something which really lets us stay
is something which really lets us stay and accept that monotony of life which
and accept that monotony of life which
and accept that monotony of life which we are used to
we are used to
we are used to I was once in this situation after
I was once in this situation after
I was once in this situation after graduating I joined a nine-to-five
graduating I joined a nine-to-five
graduating I joined a nine-to-five office and eventually started my own
office and eventually started my own
office and eventually started my own practice I was making concrete
practice I was making concrete
practice I was making concrete structures but while making those
structures but while making those
structures but while making those structures these questions kept on
structures these questions kept on
structures these questions kept on coming back to me and I’d realized that
coming back to me and I’d realized that
coming back to me and I’d realized that I wasn’t happy what I was doing I was
I wasn’t happy what I was doing I was
I wasn’t happy what I was doing I was working for my clients and not for
working for my clients and not for
working for my clients and not for myself
myself
myself it was not an easy decision to make I
it was not an easy decision to make I
it was not an easy decision to make I had a lot of discussions with my family
had a lot of discussions with my family
had a lot of discussions with my family and friends and after lot of thinking I
and friends and after lot of thinking I
and friends and after lot of thinking I decided to leave my practice and started
decided to leave my practice and started
decided to leave my practice and started a new chapter in my life it was a new
a new chapter in my life it was a new
a new chapter in my life it was a new beginning for me I started from scratch
beginning for me I started from scratch
beginning for me I started from scratch and started my own firm which is called
and started my own firm which is called
and started my own firm which is called copper and steel at copper and steel I
copper and steel at copper and steel I
copper and steel at copper and steel I want to reflect my own static sense and
want to reflect my own static sense and
want to reflect my own static sense and my own style of architecture I wanted to
my own style of architecture I wanted to
my own style of architecture I wanted to explore new boundaries I wanted to
explore new boundaries I wanted to
explore new boundaries I wanted to explore new directions and that’s what
explore new directions and that’s what
explore new directions and that’s what copper and steel did to me provided me
copper and steel did to me provided me
copper and steel did to me provided me the time to go beyond architecture that
the time to go beyond architecture that
the time to go beyond architecture that copper and steel I was practicing
copper and steel I was practicing
copper and steel I was practicing architecture making interiors doing
architecture making interiors doing
architecture making interiors doing landscaping designing furniture
landscaping designing furniture
landscaping designing furniture publishing books doing art installations
publishing books doing art installations
publishing books doing art installations and working with the craft of copper but
and working with the craft of copper but
and working with the craft of copper but that was not it I wanted to go beyond
that was not it I wanted to go beyond
that was not it I wanted to go beyond that I want to do some work for my city
that I want to do some work for my city
that I want to do some work for my city where I grew up and that was something
where I grew up and that was something
where I grew up and that was something which really made a big difference in my
which really made a big difference in my
which really made a big difference in my life
life
life karate was going through a very bad
karate was going through a very bad
karate was going through a very bad phase during 2010 killings kidnappings
phase during 2010 killings kidnappings
phase during 2010 killings kidnappings gunpoint snatching was happening on
gunpoint snatching was happening on
gunpoint snatching was happening on daily basis and we all faced that every
daily basis and we all faced that every
daily basis and we all faced that every day it was at that time that nine
day it was at that time that nine
day it was at that time that nine architects artists designers and writers
architects artists designers and writers
architects artists designers and writers came together and formed a society
came together and formed a society
came together and formed a society called Persephone Karachi the whole idea
called Persephone Karachi the whole idea
called Persephone Karachi the whole idea behind poor sukoon Karachi was to give a
behind poor sukoon Karachi was to give a
behind poor sukoon Karachi was to give a message of peace
message of peace
message of peace to the citizens and that was small and
to the citizens and that was small and
to the citizens and that was small and big issues through bad architecture
big issues through bad architecture
big issues through bad architecture design and literature we never thought
design and literature we never thought
design and literature we never thought of Windsor nas or going in the public
of Windsor nas or going in the public
of Windsor nas or going in the public but subtle messages using our strengths
but subtle messages using our strengths
but subtle messages using our strengths which was creativity to tackle these
which was creativity to tackle these
which was creativity to tackle these issues at the Arden he PR which was one
issues at the Arden he PR which was one
issues at the Arden he PR which was one of the topics which we tackled first
of the topics which we tackled first
of the topics which we tackled first which was led by a sculptor abdul-jabbar
which was led by a sculptor abdul-jabbar
which was led by a sculptor abdul-jabbar goal the whole purpose of at the earning
goal the whole purpose of at the earning
goal the whole purpose of at the earning him PR was to focus on children and you
him PR was to focus on children and you
him PR was to focus on children and you especially those areas which were
especially those areas which were
especially those areas which were trigger friendly and where gun culture
trigger friendly and where gun culture
trigger friendly and where gun culture was acceptable we asked students from
was acceptable we asked students from
was acceptable we asked students from communication design colleges all over
communication design colleges all over
communication design colleges all over Karachi and asked them to prepare
Karachi and asked them to prepare
Karachi and asked them to prepare vegetables for us around that subject
vegetables for us around that subject
vegetables for us around that subject making posters and videos later on set
making posters and videos later on set
making posters and videos later on set of artists and sculptors they went to
of artists and sculptors they went to
of artists and sculptors they went to these schools because we felt that it’s
these schools because we felt that it’s
these schools because we felt that it’s always better to tackle this issue at a
always better to tackle this issue at a
always better to tackle this issue at a younger stage with all this start
younger stage with all this start
younger stage with all this start joining these gangs
joining these gangs
joining these gangs most of these area schools were in these
most of these area schools were in these
most of these area schools were in these areas where gun culture was very
areas where gun culture was very
areas where gun culture was very acceptable they were asked to
acceptable they were asked to
acceptable they were asked to voluntarily surrender their toy guns in
voluntarily surrender their toy guns in
voluntarily surrender their toy guns in exchange of educational toys books and
exchange of educational toys books and
exchange of educational toys books and art and for pottery classes
art and for pottery classes
art and for pottery classes and also we had discussions with them we
and also we had discussions with them we
and also we had discussions with them we felt it’s very important to have
felt it’s very important to have
felt it’s very important to have one-to-one discussion with these these
one-to-one discussion with these these
one-to-one discussion with these these tips and also with the family because we
tips and also with the family because we
tips and also with the family because we feel that unless the same message is
feel that unless the same message is
feel that unless the same message is given to them at forum this is not going
given to them at forum this is not going
given to them at forum this is not going to go any further
to go any further
to go any further especially the mothers who are always
especially the mothers who are always
especially the mothers who are always there with their children
there with their children
there with their children so being educated them and lift her on
so being educated them and lift her on
so being educated them and lift her on with all the toy guns which were
with all the toy guns which were
with all the toy guns which were collected by the these artists they will
collected by the these artists they will
collected by the these artists they will lay down on the ground and revolt those
lay down on the ground and revolt those
lay down on the ground and revolt those in a public forum this whole thing
in a public forum this whole thing
in a public forum this whole thing received a very positive publicity and
received a very positive publicity and
received a very positive publicity and coverage and later on the same act was
coverage and later on the same act was
coverage and later on the same act was followed by the police in Karachi these
followed by the police in Karachi these
followed by the police in Karachi these are small and subtle messages but they
are small and subtle messages but they
are small and subtle messages but they have a bigger impact force upon Karachi
have a bigger impact force upon Karachi
have a bigger impact force upon Karachi is also taking other projects as well
is also taking other projects as well
is also taking other projects as well and the conservation of gas station
and the conservation of gas station
and the conservation of gas station Karachi is also one of them can station
Karachi is also one of them can station
Karachi is also one of them can station every day receives about thousands of
every day receives about thousands of
every day receives about thousands of people from all over Pakistan who come
people from all over Pakistan who come
people from all over Pakistan who come to Karachi for a better life and this
to Karachi for a better life and this
to Karachi for a better life and this serves as a gateway to the city it’s
serves as a gateway to the city it’s
serves as a gateway to the city it’s unfortunate it’s a hundred twenty-five
unfortunate it’s a hundred twenty-five
unfortunate it’s a hundred twenty-five year old stone structure but is covered
year old stone structure but is covered
year old stone structure but is covered in almost 20 layers of paint and plaster
in almost 20 layers of paint and plaster
in almost 20 layers of paint and plaster our idea was to bring it to back to its
our idea was to bring it to back to its
our idea was to bring it to back to its original condition we wanted to create
original condition we wanted to create
original condition we wanted to create awareness among public and the whole
awareness among public and the whole
awareness among public and the whole idea of bringing the public and the
idea of bringing the public and the
idea of bringing the public and the government officers together we started
government officers together we started
government officers together we started having meeting right at grantstation
having meeting right at grantstation
having meeting right at grantstation through to make them aware of how
through to make them aware of how
through to make them aware of how beautiful this whole structure is of
beautiful this whole structure is of
beautiful this whole structure is of course we were dependent on a creative
course we were dependent on a creative
course we were dependent on a creative community and we asked artists to donate
community and we asked artists to donate
community and we asked artists to donate the paintings and it was auction and
the paintings and it was auction and
the paintings and it was auction and from the funds which were raised from
from the funds which were raised from
from the funds which were raised from these auctions we started the renovation
these auctions we started the renovation
these auctions we started the renovation and as you can see that story taking
and as you can see that story taking
and as you can see that story taking shape and the layers are being removed
shape and the layers are being removed
shape and the layers are being removed and you can see the before and after
and you can see the before and after
and you can see the before and after effects of that project but while we
effects of that project but while we
effects of that project but while we were working on Kent Station project we
were working on Kent Station project we
were working on Kent Station project we realized there is no sitting space for
realized there is no sitting space for
realized there is no sitting space for the public and their families
the public and their families
the public and their families there was only one bench outside the
there was only one bench outside the
there was only one bench outside the Kent station which was reserved for
Kent station which was reserved for
Kent station which was reserved for police as we had no funds we had to come
police as we had no funds we had to come
police as we had no funds we had to come up with a creative way of solving this
up with a creative way of solving this
up with a creative way of solving this issue again we called our architect
issue again we called our architect
issue again we called our architect friends designers artists and asked them
friends designers artists and asked them
friends designers artists and asked them to design in the native bench each for
to design in the native bench each for
to design in the native bench each for this project not a big thing to ask
this project not a big thing to ask
this project not a big thing to ask everybody happily agreed to do so and
everybody happily agreed to do so and
everybody happily agreed to do so and the result was that we started receiving
the result was that we started receiving
the result was that we started receiving these beautiful sculptural benches and
even putting those benches our people
even putting those benches our people started using them there was such a big
started using them there was such a big
started using them there was such a big need for that and this whole thing has
need for that and this whole thing has
need for that and this whole thing has big only done through the help of the
big only done through the help of the
big only done through the help of the artist community easiest thing was to go
artist community easiest thing was to go
artist community easiest thing was to go to a multinational company and ask them
to a multinational company and ask them
to a multinational company and ask them to donate money and buy a bench and put
to donate money and buy a bench and put
to donate money and buy a bench and put it there with their logo on it but I
it there with their logo on it but I
it there with their logo on it but I think involving the community is
think involving the community is
think involving the community is something which we really work for and
something which we really work for and
something which we really work for and that’s something which is very important
that’s something which is very important
that’s something which is very important which can turn into something as well
which can turn into something as well
which can turn into something as well and is that – a beautiful sculpture to
and is that – a beautiful sculpture to
and is that – a beautiful sculpture to say that you know we have to set up our
say that you know we have to set up our
say that you know we have to set up our priorities today the lineup I’m so happy
priorities today the lineup I’m so happy
priorities today the lineup I’m so happy to see so many youngsters who are
to see so many youngsters who are
to see so many youngsters who are following their passion who are
following their passion who are
following their passion who are following what they actually believe and
following what they actually believe and
following what they actually believe and I think that’s what the whole idea is
I think that’s what the whole idea is
I think that’s what the whole idea is that we have to follow our passion we
that we have to follow our passion we
that we have to follow our passion we have to work on what we believe in I
have to work on what we believe in I
have to work on what we believe in I know that we all of us cannot afford to
know that we all of us cannot afford to
know that we all of us cannot afford to leave our jobs and work full time for
leave our jobs and work full time for
leave our jobs and work full time for that but I think we can all design and
that but I think we can all design and
that but I think we can all design and donate of
donate of
donate of that’s the least we can do all we have
that’s the least we can do all we have
that’s the least we can do all we have to do is take a first step in the right
to do is take a first step in the right
to do is take a first step in the right direction
direction
direction thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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