{{Short description|Pakistani teacher, women's rights activist and artist}} {{about|the Pakistani artist and activist|other uses of similar names|Lalla Rookh (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Lala Rukh | image = | imagesize = | birth_date = 29 June 1948 | death_date = 7 July 2017 | death_place = Lahore, Pakistan | caption = | birth_place = Lahore, Pakistan | party = | spouse = | children = | occupation = Artist, educator, and women's rights activist | website = }} '''Lala Rukh''' (1948–2017) was a prominent artist, educator, and women's rights activist based in Lahore.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 February 2008 |title=Veteran activist Lala Rukh's demise mourned – Pakistan – Dunya News |url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/396076-Veteran-activist-Lala-Rukhs-demise-mourned- |publisher=}}</ref> She is considered as one of pioneering artists of minimalism in South Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lala Rukh Sagar |url=https://artreview.com/ara-summer-2017-review-lala-rukh/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=artreview.com |language=en}}</ref> Lala Rukh taught at Punjab University's Department of Fine Art and the National College of Arts for nearly four decades.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=News Desk |date=2017-07-07 |title=Lala Rukh (1948–2017) |url=https://www.artforum.com/news/lala-rukh-1948-2017-234861/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Artforum |language=en-US}}</ref> She was one of the co-founders of Women's Action Forum, a women's rights organization established in 1981 in Pakistan, and Simorgh Women's Resource and Publication Centre founded in Lahore in 1985,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1343812|title=WAF activist and artist Lala Rukh passes away in Lahore|first=Imran|last=Gabol|date=7 July 2017|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Selections |date=2024-03-19 |title='Lala Rukh: In the Round' at the Sharjah Art Foundation • SELECTIONS ARTS MAGAZINE |url=https://selectionsarts.com/lala-rukh-in-the-round-at-the-sharjah-art-foundation/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=SELECTIONS ARTS MAGAZINE |language=en-US}}</ref> and Vasl Artists Trust in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Shoaib |date=8 July 2017 |title=Rights activist, art teacher Lala Rukh passes away |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1343941 |work=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 July 2017 |title=Artist and prominent activist Lala Rukh passes away |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1452876/artist-prominent-activist-lala-rukh-passes-away |work=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Her largest survey to date was organized by the Sharjah Art Foundation in 2024.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Lala Rukh: In the Round |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-915656-14-8 |location=Sharjah, UAE |language=English, Arabic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Murtaza Vali on Lala Rukh - Criticism |url=https://www.e-flux.com/criticism/614099/lala-rukh-s-in-the-round |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=e-flux |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-24 |title=Lala Rukh: In the Round is the artist's largest survey to date |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/1203565/lala-rukh-in-the-round-is-the-artists-largest-survey-to-date/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Daily Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Education == Lala Rukh earned a master's degree in Fine Arts at University of the Punjab, Lahore (MFA) and University of Chicago, Illinois (MFA). She taught for thirty years at Punjab University, Department of Fine Art and the National College of Arts,<ref name="NCA">{{cite news |title=Veteran activist Lala Rukh breathes her last |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1452522/veteran-activist-lala-rukh-breathes-last |work=The Express Tribune |date=7 July 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Lahore. In 2000, she set up the MA (Hons) Visual Art Program at the National College of Arts,<ref name="NCA" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Lala Rukh |url=http://www.kbcuratorial.com/artists/lala-rukh |website=Karachi Biennale 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lala Rukh (1948–2017) |url=https://www.artforum.com/news/lala-rukh-1948-2017-69481 |website=www.artforum.com|date=7 July 2017 }}</ref> which she led until her retirement in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 March 2020 |title=Celebrating Artist, Activist and Teacher Lala Rukh on International Women's Day |url=https://www.ruyamaps.org/2protest-art/international-womens-day-lala-rukh |website=www.ruyamaps.org}}</ref> Over the years, she received several government travel grants in Pakistan, allowing her to study in Turkey and Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Art Radar celebrates Lala Rukh |url=https://artradarjournal.com/2017/08/15/avant-garde-art-and-feminism-late-pakistani-artist-lala-rukh-artist-profile/ |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=16 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516080247/https://artradarjournal.com/2017/08/15/avant-garde-art-and-feminism-late-pakistani-artist-lala-rukh-artist-profile/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Artistic practice== Lala Rukh's artwork is characterized by minimalist and meditative expressions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lala Rukh – Introduction by Natasha Ginwala|url=http://www.documenta14.de/en/south/902_lala_rukh_introduction_by_natasha_ginwala}}</ref> They key recurring themes in her works include water bodies and the horizon line.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Artist's rooms |date=2018 |publisher=Jameel Arts Centre |isbn=978-9948-38-251-5 |editor-last=Markaz Jamīl lil-Funūn |location=Dubai}}</ref> Her piece "Mirror Image, 1, 2, 3" (1997) was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Met Acquires Works by Pakistani Artist Lala Rukh |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/press/news/2020/the-met-acquires-works-by-pakistani-artist-lala-rukh |website=www.metmuseum.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 January 2020 |title=The Met Adds Works by Pakistani Artist Lala Rukh to Its Collection |url=https://www.artforum.com/news/the-met-adds-works-by-pakistani-artist-lala-rukh-to-its-collection-81845 |website=www.artforum.com}}</ref> Editions of her work "Rupak" (2016) are included in the collections of Tate Modern in London,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lala Rukh: Panel Discussion – Talk at Online Event |url=https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/online-event/talk/lala-rukh-panel-discussion |website=Tate}}</ref> Samdani Art Foundation in Dhaka, Art Jameel in Dubai, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2019-12-27 |title=Resonance: After Lala Rukh |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/27-Dec-2019/resonance-after-lala-rukh |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=The Friday Times |language=en}}</ref>
Her works have been exhibited at notable institutions such as the Jameel Arts Centre in [https://jameelartscentre.org/ Dubai] (2024), Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale in Riyadh (2024), Dhaka Art Summit (2023 and 2018), Ishara Art Foundation in [https://www.ishara.org/ Dubai] (2022), Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi (2020), Punta della Dogana in Venice (2019), Centre Pompidou in Paris (2018),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peindre la nuit - Centre Pompidou-Metz |url=https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/program/calendar/event/cbEo75o |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=www.centrepompidou.fr |language=en-EN}}</ref> Lahore Biennial (2018), documenta 14 (2017) in Kassel,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lala Rukh – Documenta 14 |url=http://www.documenta14.de/en/artists/13547/lala-rukh}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2017 |title=These Are the 8 Unmissable Highlights of documenta 14 in Kassel |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/documenta-14-kassel-highlights-986414 |website=artnet News}}</ref> Drawing Room in London (2017–18)[https://drawingroom.org.uk/], Athens Conservatoire (2017),<ref>{{cite web |title=In Memoriam: Lala Rukh (1948–2017) |url=https://www.documenta14.de/en/notes-and-works/23802/in-memoriam-lala-rukh-1948-2017-}}</ref> Kunsthaus Centre D'Art Pasquart in Biel (2017), Yinchuan Biennale (2016),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bose Krishnamachari to curate inaugural Yinchuan Biennale in northwest China |url=https://artreview.com/news-2-june-2016-yinchuan-biennale/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=artreview.com |language=en}}</ref> and Sharjah Biennial 12 (2015).<ref>{{cite news |date=25 January 2020 |title=Lala Rukh's presence echoes wide at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/546128/lala-rukhs-presence-echoes-wide-at-the-prestigious-metropolitan-museum/ |work=Daily Times}}</ref>
==Feminist activism== Lala Rukh was one of the fifteen founding members of the Women's Action Forum (WAF) in 1981 .<ref>{{cite news |title=Lala Rukh passes away |url=https://nation.com.pk/08-Jul-2017/lala-rukh-passes-away |work=The Nation |date=8 July 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistani icon Lala Rukh remembered on her birthday {{!}} SAMAA |url=https://www.samaa.tv/culture/2020/06/pakistani-icon-lala-rukh-remembered-on-her-birthday/ |work=Samaa TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Shoaib |title=Commemorating the life of Lala Rukh, artist and activist extraordinaire |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1368920 |work=DAWN.COM |date=7 November 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Women's Action Forum national convention, Lahore 1982 |url=https://imadahmed.com/2006/11/17/womens-action-forum-national-convention-lahore-1982/ |website=a lib dem in international development |language=en |date=17 November 2006}}</ref> As an activist and campaigner, she advocated for the rights of women and various minority groups. She participated in protests against the martial law imposed by Dictator Ziaul Haq. For her political activities, she was also sent to jail at that time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iconic women's rights activist Lala Rukh laid to rest |url=https://nation.com.pk/07-Jul-2017/iconic-women-s-rights-activist-lala-rukh-laid-to-rest |work=The Nation |date=7 July 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Lala Rukh opposed the Hudood Ordinance penal code, considering it as discriminatory against women.<ref>{{cite news |title=WAF activist, artist Lala Rukh passes away |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/07/07/waf-activist-artist-lala-rukh-passes-away/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=daa571750e8ab3105b22e79855c517988f0db346-1607160370-0-ARptA2lNm5L68G_MW3WBeRYqBZ46bCXNk4pZv5briFk4ITwWR0Diao30g3k76p0G0IGyvFpXB4eItSgxpSrr-o5CM6Cbz5kdcFIsht3FRAf_b0GHBJD3z0u1mKFpv9F5U4wnKTm9Z22mseAyVC71xPQmatdC9tBWhJDTeWqT6tZLfqid9KuCJXcdOVZDF6LyeAYCkp_J66tpbFnpETB8Qjiogc-JxxnWuuePPvaOMtDWiA989gqhpLodAyg_CGpc-ZAIi07uiDpr7cq3r_rD5hT_xmdgeByEd_4u9oJ8fDqsYtNAPRU-a9kWdBGF5YKceoj50248-bPkcJ3VSJyv2tThPrKs5BsI8yDvBdr1gexXzjrKtEbfHxi309Paa7IO9A}}</ref> During Musharaf's dictatorship, she was arrested again during the Emergency of 2007, alongside fifty other WAF members.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Dakshita |first1=Singh |last2=Kothari |first2=Shamini |last3=Rukh |first3=Lala |author-link3=Lala Rukh (activist) |date=July 8, 2015 |title=LALA FROM LAHORE (Part 1) |url=https://zubaanbooks.com/lala-from-lahore-part1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810104202/http://zubaanbooks.com/lala-from-lahore-part1/ |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |website=zubaanbooks.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Dakshita |first1=Singh |last2=Kothari |first2=Shamini |last3=Rukh |first3=Lala |author-link3=Lala Rukh (activist) |date=July 9, 2015 |title=LALA FROM LAHORE (Part 2) |url=https://zubaanbooks.com/lala-from-lahore-part2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524015128/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3AXLuibcSdLsMJ%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fzubaanbooks.com%2Flala-from-lahore-part2%2F+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl= |archive-date=24 May 2022 |access-date=May 24, 2022 |website=zubaanbooks.com}}</ref> As an active member of WAF, Lala Rukh used her art to address community and women's rights issues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reclaiming History:A Feminist Story |url=https://www.shahziasikander.com/attachment/en/5a6f811a6aa72c6c268b4568/Press/5d5eeea22bab2c2c288b456f}}</ref> In Lahore, when local printers refused to print newsletters and protest materials on government orders, she took the initiative to organize workshops where participants designed and printed WAF's posters advocating for women's freedom and equal rights. Her collection of feminist art, "Crimes Against Women," originated from this series of posters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crimes against Women |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/815496 |website=www.metmuseum.org}}</ref> Lala Rukh was also involved in the Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD).<ref name="NCA" />
== Personal life and estate == Lala Rukh adopted her sister's daughter, Maryam Rahman, who is currently leading The Estate of Lala Rukh.<ref name=":1" /> Lala Rukh was diagnosed with cancer in June 2017 and died on 7 July 2017, at the age of 69.<ref name="auto" /> Grey Noise Gallery in Dubai represents the Estate of Lala Rukh.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 September 2017 |title=What Is the Most Iconic Artwork of the 21st Century? 14 Art Experts Weigh In |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/iconic-artworks-21st-century-1092800 |website=artnet News}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rukh, Lala}} Category:1948 births Category:Pakistani women's rights activists Category:People from Lahore Category:20th-century Pakistani artists Category:20th-century Pakistani women artists Category:Pakistani women artists Category:National College of Arts Category:2017 deaths Category:Pakistani women activists Category:Pakistani feminists