(Photo: Unsplash / Jessica Pamp)
Gallery 6 in Islamabad continued its tradition of honoring the legendary Pakistani artist Sadequain with the latest exhibition, "Sadequain Ki Anjuman Mein," on Sunday, marking what would have been the artist's 94th birth anniversary. This exhibition featured a collective tribute from 20 emerging and established artists, all drawing inspiration from Sadequain's extensive and influential work.
Previous Exhibitions Lauded by Art Community
Since 2012, Gallery 6 has held various events and exhibitions celebrating Sadequain, a tradition that has included notable exhibitions like "Sadequain aur Mein" in 2015 and "Seher-e-Sadequain" in 2022. These previous showcases were well-received by the art community, and they were applauded for their outstanding presentations of artworks inspired by Sadequain.
Emerging Artists Participate in Intensive Art Retreat
The preparation for "Sadequain Ki Anjuman Mein" began in February. Gallery 6 invited ten emerging artists from the national biennial Arjumand Painting Award 2023. Despite not winning, these artists had made significant submissions. They participated in an intensive two-week art retreat where they immersed themselves in Sadequain's life and works through books, images, letters, quatrains, videos, interviews, and discussions. Additionally, ten established artists were briefed about the exhibition and conducted their studies to create their pieces.
Diverse Interpretations of Sadequain's Art on Display
The exhibition showcased a diverse range of interpretations influenced by Sadequain's art.
- Symbolic Motifs and Expressive Forms: Asif Hussain and Mohsinur Rahman's paintings drew from the 'Crows and Scarecrows' series, while Behzad Warsi and Ubaida Ghazanfar created works based on Sadequain's quatrains.
- Self-Portraiture and Iconic Depictions: Faheem Abbas focused on self-portraiture, a recurring theme in Sadequain's series, and Masood A. Khan depicted the legend himself. Farrukh Shahab's work weaved together the symbolic motifs and expressive forms that defined Sadequain's compositions.
- Social and Political Dimensions: Hamza Qazi and Ramsha Khan explored Sadequain's profound quest for life's meaning, emphasizing social and political dimensions. Imran Baloch's works, such as 'Urooj o Zawal,' highlighted the regression of the Urdu language, questioning if Sadequain would still be as proficient in Urdu today.
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Personal Reflections: Khadija Saeed Akhtar found personal reflection in Sadequain's Cactus Series.
Exploring Labor, Women, and Calligraphy
- Daily Struggles and Realism: Mariam Arshad was inspired by Sadequain's focus on laborers, farmers, and common people, and she reflected their daily struggles in her work. Maryam Ahsan drew from Sadequain's portrayal of women, blending realism with lyricism.
- Impact on Calligraphy: Mazher Qureshi appreciates Sadequain's influence on mainstream calligraphy, and Ubaid Tariq, blending traditional calligraphy with modern art forms, highlighted the sacred through modern digital languages.
Humanity's Quest for Potential
In her work, Nabiha Gilani focused on humanity's quest for potential, while Sabahat's tribute through paintings reflected Sadequain's mural style filled with numerous figures. Dr. Arjumand Faisel, the exhibition's curator, alongside designer Noor Imran, created a digital artwork titled 'Treasures of My Time,' inspired by Sadequain's 1961 mural for the State Bank. Featuring 19 leading art personalities of Pakistan, Faisel's work received high praise from prominent figures like Aziz Hasan.
Curatorial Excellence and Global Interest
Cezanne Naqsh, son of another legend, Jamil Naqsh, expressed his admiration for the exhibition, stating it set a new standard for curatorial excellence, visually stunning and deeply informative.
At the preview, Dr. Faisel expressed pleasure in presenting this research-based curated show as a tribute to Sadequain. Overwhelmed by the global interest and positive feedback, he warmly welcomed all art lovers to experience this fascinating exhibition.
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