Lala Rukh
Lala Rukh (1948-2017) lived and worked in Lahore, Pakistan, and studied an MFA at Punjab University, and one MFA at University of Chicago. She taught for 30 years at Punjab University, Department of Fine Art and the National College of Arts where she set up the MA (Hons) Visual Art Program in the year 2000. After retiring from teaching, Lala Rukh devoted her time in her studio and to activism. She was amongst the foremost feminist activist artist of South Asia.
Her recent shows include Sharjah Art Foundation; Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, Riyadh; Ishara Art Foundation, Dubai; Kiran Nadar Museum Art, India; Punta della Dogana, Venice; Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai; Centre Pompidou – Metz; documenta 14, Athens, Greece, Kassel; 1st Yinchuan Biennial;12th Sharjah Biennial.
1st poster with Jinnah’s Speech
1982
Reproduction of offset print, 54,96 × 68.74 cm
Right to Testimony
1983
Reproduction of offset print, 49,1 × 69.6 cm
Eyk Aurat, Eyk Gawahi – One Woman, One Testimony
1983
Reproduction of screenprint, 48.26 × 68,58 cm
Crimes Against Women
1985
Reproduction of offset print 44,45 × 67,31 cm
Women’s Action Forum Calendar
1985
Reproduction of offset print, 40,75 × 60,5 cm
The Unholy Trinity, Money, Men, Morality
1986
Reproduction of offset print, 45,72 × 68,6 cm
Poster by Women and Children at Simorgh Regional Screen-printing workshop In Our Own Backyard
1987
Reproduction of screenprint, 45,7 × 58,6 cm
Pakistan Women’s Day: 10 Years of WAF
1993
Reproduction of offset print 45 × 68 cm
Courtesy of the Estate of Lala Rukh
Lala Rukh was an artist, activist, and scholar whose work fused minimalist aesthetics with political resistance. She co-founded the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) in 1981, which campaigned against oppressive laws and advocated for women’s rights in Pakistan. Her activism extended beyond the realm of art – she was arrested for protesting against military rule and discriminatory legislation and was a fearless advocate for justice.
As part of WAF, Rukh collaborated with other women to design and screenprint bold protest posters when government-controlled printers refused to publish their materials. The posters became vital tools of resistance, amplifying women’s voices and exposing systemic violence. Rukh also initiated printmaking workshops to support women involved in similar movements. In Our Own Backyard is a screen printing manual she created for these workshops, which often took place in her own backyard in Lahore – transforming domestic space into a site of collective learning and political action.