‘Rosh-e-Qalandar’ organised at Arts Council of Pakistan to mark artist’s 39th death anniversary
KARACHI:
An art exhibition titled “Rosh-e-Qalandar” was organised at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi to mark the 39th death anniversary of renowned Pakistani artist Sadequain, bringing together artists, art enthusiasts and cultural figures to pay tribute to one of the country’s most celebrated painters.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Sindh’s Minister for Culture, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, alongside Arts Council President Ahmed Shah. Curated by Farukh Shahab, Chairman of the Fine Art Committee, the exhibition features artworks inspired by Sadequain’s internationally acclaimed paintings.
A total of 27 artworks by contemporary artists have been displayed, reflecting Sadequain’s artistic legacy and influence on modern Pakistani art. Participating artists include Masood A. Khan, A.S. Rind, Moeen Farooqui, Tanveer Farooqui, Khalid Khan, G.N. Qazi, Munawar Ali Syed, Faheem Rao, Arif Hussain Khokhar, Imran Zaib, S.M. Raza, Muhammad Kashif, Shamsuddin, Qasim Bugti, Amina Khan, Zeenat Khan, Akash Jeevraj, Kiran Aslam, Zoya Abbas, Sohana Ilyas and Asim Naqvi.
Speaking at the event, Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said the exhibition had been organised to honour Sadequain’s artistic contributions and to introduce younger generations to his work. He noted that artists from across Pakistan had participated, interpreting Sadequain’s iconic themes through their own artistic expression.
He described Sadequain’s work as globally recognised, adding that many of his original pieces are now rare and no longer accessible. He emphasised the need to promote the work of Pakistani artists to strengthen the country’s cultural identity internationally and encouraged young artists to learn from the legacy of master painters like Sadequain.
The exhibition also drew a large number of artists and members of the art community. Officials said that art exhibitions at the Arts Council continue to provide an important platform for emerging talent.
Known for his monumental murals and distinctive calligraphic style, Sadequain remains one of Pakistan’s most influential artists, whose work continues to inspire generations. Organisers also announced plans to hold a conference in his name and to establish a permanent gallery dedicated to his legacy.
Sadequain was born on 30 June 1930 in Amroha, into a family of calligraphers. He, along with his family members, had migrated to Pakistan during the 1947 partition, residing in the Nazimabad neighbourhood of Karachi.
In late 1940s he joined the Progressive Writers’ and Artists Movement. His true talent was discovered by Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy who brought Sadequain into the limelight. He also spent some time in Paris augmenting his skills.
Sadequain was widely praised for his calligraphy by many critics of South Asian art. He was part of a broader Islamic art movement, known as the Hurufiyya movement, which emerged independently across North Africa and parts of Asia in the 1950s.
Hurufiyah refers to the attempt by artists to combine traditional art forms, notably calligraphy as a graphic element within a contemporary artwork.
Hurufiyah artists rejected Western art concepts, and instead searched for a new visual languages that reflected their own culture and heritage. These artists successfully transformed calligraphy into a modern aesthetic, which was both contemporary and indigenous.
Prior to Sadequain’s work, only a few painters had experimented with the medium in Pakistan. Sadequain is a pioneer of the style, bringing calligraphy into a mainstream art form, and influencing subsequent generations of Pakistani artists.
Sadequain was a social commentator, and preferred to paint on public buildings instead of private ones that were owned by the wealthy.
He did not like the idea that if he was painting for the wealthy, then his art would only be enjoyed by a small percentage, leaving out all of the public. His murals are densely filled and tightly packed with images to render adequately the lofty subject.
His monumental murals, in excess of thirty-five, adorn the halls of State Bank, Frere Hall Karachi; Lahore Museum; Punjab University; Mangla Dam; Aligarh Muslim University; Banaras Hindu University; Indian Institute of Geological Sciences; Islamic Institute in Delhi, and Abu Dhabi Power House, among others.
His paintings and calligraphies in the building of the Islamic Institute in Delhi alone cover more than seven thousand square feet. Sadequain painted his earliest murals at Jinnah Hospital and PIA headquarters in the 1950s. These murals have disappeared and their fate is unknown.
