Vickey Zhuang Yi-Yin, together with fellow Pakistani artists, has set up a production house in Lahore to support local artists and provide people with a space to express their minds and exchange views on different topics of social and cultural nature.
“The Olomopolo Media hosts weekly events of storytelling and conversations on a range of topics at its facility in Lahore, capital of the Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province. We also arrange art, music, dance, theatre and other performances at our space and in various other places, especially for schools of the under-privileged children,” Vickey shared at an online forum on Monday. The forum was moderated by Vice Chancellor Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Dr Nadeem ul Haq, titled ‘Arts and Cultural Centres as Catalysts of Urban Vibrancy’.
Vickey said that the Olomopolo Media was open to all to come, exchange views, see art and music performances and have a break from being bored at home or workplace. She added that they also helped and promoted the local artists in many ways.
Vickey said that spaces like Olomopolo were necessary because people want to do something different than only dining out at restaurants in evenings. “Olomopolo provides a space for people to escape distress and feel happy, together with learning about new ideas in a stress-free environment,” she said.
“Making money is not our purpose. Instead, we aim at serving a community in pain and discomfort,” she elaborated.
Vickey said that she and her Pakistani friends established Olomopolo with their own savings and still have to manage expenses from their own pockets when there is no grant available. “Recently, I taught at three different places to earn enough money to manage my own expenses as well as keep the Olomopolo functioning, she said. It’s totally a community service,” she added.
PIDE VC Dr Nadeem said that spaces like Olomopolo were imperative for urban vibrancy and getting people out of distress. This also has an economic value, and he urged the government to support such organizations.
