A woman seen standing outside a cafe called "Cooco's Den"

A woman seen standing outside a cafe called "Cooco's Den". Artist Iqbal Hussain, also known as Cooco opened this cafe in a building where he lived situated in what was in the past the Red Light district (heera Mandi) of Lahore. Iqbal is the son of a prostitute from heera mandi and his artwork primarily depicts themes and aspects of the life of sex workers around whom he grew up. When he first opened the cafe, it was shunned by the conservative Pakistani's who didn't take his attempt at reforming the Red Light District seriously. His work and his story as well as the cafe gained international attention and exposure when an American diplomat came to Hussain at his residence at Coocos den to commission a painting and spread the word making several foreign dignitaries flock there for a meal. Eventually it became a status symbol for high end society and kind of a thrill to go eat at this place and experience a bit of Red Light district culture. The view from the roof of Iqbal's establishment is one of the best where you get to see the Badshahi Masjid and walled city of Lahore. It needs to be said that despite his fame and fortune, Iqbal Hussain remains non-commercial and true to who he is- still very closely connected to the community he comes from both in his art and personal life. Photo by @khaula28 #lahore #pakistan #walledcity #history