Images – More on Iqbal Hussain

7Feb/072

Images – More on Iqbal Hussain

The celebrated artist Iqbal Hussain also runs the famous Cooco's cafe in the old Lahore. My friend of the Olive ReamÂ fame was there some time ago and sent this link to his photo-blog.

I am reproducingÂ the images captured by him below:

On the left is the main entrance to Cooco's den - this is located opposite the Badshahi Mosque. It is a narrow street recently done up and as you walk down, you can approach the entrance to Lahore Fort.Â This is a stunning location.Â Lahore's past has been re-invoked and introduced to so many people - locals as well as outsiders - just by one cafe. If anything Cooco's cafe will be remembered as a trend-setting landmark in Lahore.

Another lovely image from the Cafe that has transformed the concept of ambiance in restaurants. Iqbal has used all the available antiques and relics from the multicultural past of Lahore to create a unique blend of art, history and composite culture that Lahore was once proud of!

The exterior of the cafe old reflecting the quintessential mood of old Lahore marred by the electricity wires and [mal]development...

And finally (below) theÂ entrance to Cocoo's adorned by Iqbal's soulful paintings. The art displayedÂ transforms the place andÂ gives it another dimensionÂ

The Olive Ream has posted these lines from David Gray with the images re-produced above:Â

Did I imagine or do these walls have eyes
Did I imagine they held us hypnotized
Life in slow motion somehow it don't feel real
Words

How appropriate.

Filed under: All My Posts, Arts & Culture, On Pakistan, Photo stories, Random musings, South Asian Art Leave a comment

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the olive ream
February 8th, 2007 - 04:43

A great tribute to Cooco’s. There’s so much more of the place that one can photograph – perhaps I shall do it justice when I am in Lahore next.
kaya
April 21st, 2007 - 17:03

WOW!!! Little did I know when we stood outside Roshnai GAte drinking chai about a month ago, that this place had so much history.
We took pictures,it was closed for business @ that time of the day. I remarked to my husband that it looked like a really amazing place. It is only today that reading about Heera mandi I came across, Iqbal Hussain and the subsequent link to Cocoo’s.
I cant wait to go back to Lahore to see this place for real!!
Thanks for the info.