I have been working in the woodcut medium for the last 41 years – since 1969. After completing my class assignment in woodcut, this medium fascinated me so much that I also did my final thesis in it. This was the first time that anyone in Pakistan did his or her thesis in this medium. This medium is very difficult, laborious and requires patience. I have improved upon the quality of work constantly by adding to the number of colours used in each print; which have gone upto 100 colours in a print. Carving and printing are done by myself by hand, without the help of machine. In Pakistan, the woodcut prints are taught and prepared in one colour. I not only introduced from two to 100 colour prints, but also popularized this medium in Pakistan. Today, this medium is my identity. For this reason, I am known as the only artist of this medium in this country.
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Work
I have been working in the woodcut medium for the last 41 years – since 1969. After completing my class assignment in woodcut, this medium fascinated me so much that I also did my final thesis in it. This was the first time that anyone in Pakistan did his or her thesis in this medium. This medium is very difficult, laborious and requires patience. I have improved upon the quality of work constantly by adding to the number of colours used in each print; which have gone upto 50 colours in a print. Carving and printing are done by myself by hand, without the help of machine. In Pakistan, the woodcut prints are taught and prepared in one colour. I not only introduced from two to fifty colour prints, but also popularized this medium in Pakistan. Today, this medium is my identity. For this reason, I am known as the only artist of this medium in this country.
THEME
• The old city of Lahore is my favourite theme observed closely by me since I have been brought up in the same environment. The architecture, street scenes and the dramatic effect of changing light are constant sources of inspiration for me.
CITYSCAPE WALLED CITY OF LAHORE (DRY PASTEL)
• I have been working in Dry Pastel for the last ten years and maintaining dramatic effect of light and style associated with my previous work.
THEME
• I have made the cultural heritage of Lahore, as exemplified in its gates and streets, my theme. An attempt has been made to capture the dramatic effects of changing light which reflects both hope and despair at different times.
ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY
• I have been working on the Islamic calligraphy with dry pastel to create colour harmony for the last eight years.
THEME
• I have made an attempt to design and paint the names of Almighty God, depicting His qualities, as well as the verses of the Holy Quran with their explanation.
SPIRITUAL IMAGES (MIX MEDIUM)
• I have mixed medium paintings with Almighty God’s names, spiritual images and Quranic Ayats using gold, silver, green and black on black.
THEME
• Calligraphic paintings directly inspired from the Holy Ka’aba while being present there. The different images that came to my mind – black, gold and silver – fascinated me and gave me wonderful spiritual inspiration. I tried to paint these spiritual images in mixed medium.
SOLO NATIONAL EXHIBITION
1. Graphics (woodcut) exhibition on 25th January 1986 at ALHAMRA Art Gallery, Lahore.
2. Graphics (woodcut) exhibition on 22nd July 1987 at ORIGINALS Visual Art Gallery, Lahore.
3. Graphics (woodcut) exhibition on 25th August 1987 at J.S. Art Gallery, Karachi.
4. Graphics (woodcut) exhibition on 22nd January 1990 at DANISH Art Gallery, Karachi.
5. Graphics (woodcut) exhibition on 8th October 1990 at INTERIORS Gallery, Islamabad.
6. Graphics (woodcut) exhibition on 23rd May 1991 at LAHORE Art Gallery, Lahore.
7. Graphic (woodcut) exhibition on 7th November 1991 at Avari Hotel, Lahore.
8. Graphic (woodcut) exhibition on 28th September 1994 at Art Gallery, Islamabad.
9. Graphic (woodcut) exhibition on 22nd September 1996 at PNCA’s National Art Gallery, Islamabad.
10. Graphic (woodcut) exhibition on 11th November 1996 at Balochistan Art Council, Quetta.
11. Graphic (woodcut) exhibition on 4th January 1997 at Kunj Art Gallery, Karachi.
12. Dry Pastel Color Drawing Exhibition on 9th November 1999 at Ejaz Gallery, Lahore.
13. Dry Pastel Color Drawing Exhibition on 3rd August 2000 at Nomad Art Gallery, Islamabad.
14. Dry Pastels & Woodcut Prints Exhibition on 28th May 2002 at Holiday Inn, Lahore.
15. Mix Medium Exhibition “Spiritual Images” on 25th November 2004 at Louvre Art Gallery, Karachi.
16. Dry Pastels exhibition on 1st March, 2006 at Hamail Art Gallery, Lahore.
17. Dry Pastels exhibition on 12th April, 2006 at Nomad Art Gallery, Islamabad.
18. Graphic (woodcut) exhibition on 22nd November 2006 at Zahoor-ul-Ikhlaq Gallery, NCA, Lahore. (Governor of Punjab will inaugurate the exhibition)
19. Graphic (woodcut) exhibition on 15th December 2006 at Art Gallery, NCA Rawalpindi Campus.
20. Graphic (woodcut) exhibition on 15th May 2008 at Minhas Art Gallery, Government College University, Lahore.
21. Exhibition of Oil Painting, Woodcut, Calligraphy, Water Color and Drawing at National Art Gallery, Islamabad
22. Exhibition of Oil Painting, Water Color,Woodcut, and Drawing at Nairing Galleries, Lahore.
SOLO INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
• Graphic exhibition on 6th November 1987 at SIDDHARTHA ART GALLERY, Kathmandu, Nepal.
GROUP SHOW NATIONAL CALIGRAPHIC ART
• National Exhibition of Calligraphic Art exhibition at National Art Gallery, Islamabad on 2001.
• Exhibition of Calligraphy Paintings at Ejaz Gallery, Lahore on 27th November, 2002.
• National Exhibition of Calligraphic Art organized by PNCA in collaboration with Abaseen Art Council, Peshawar 2002.
• Exhibition of Calligraphy Art Coopera Art Gallery, Lahore on 5th December, 2003.
• Group show by Eminent Artists of Pakistan on 3rd December 2005 at National Art Gallery, Islamabad.
GROUP SHOW NATIONAL and workshop on digital machine and woodcut prints making all over Pakistan
• Group show “Digital, Printing Machine & Woodcut Prints” on 26th April 2002 at Kunj Art Gallery, Karachi.
• Group show creative print making: “Yesterday Today and Tomorrow” on Friday 31st January 2003 at Coopera Art Gallery, Lahore.
• Group show “Digital, Printing Machine & Woodcut Prints” on 13th October 2003 at National Art Gallery, Islamabad and Two Day Workshop on Print Making Techniques.
• Group show “Digital, Printing Machine & Woodcut Prints” on 8th January 2004 at Abaseen Art Council, Nishter Hall, Peshawar and One day Workshop on Print Making Techniques.
• Group show “Digital, Printing Machine & Woodcut Prints” on 7th September 2005 at Balochistan Art Council, Quetta and One day Workshop on Print Making Techniques.
GROUP SHOW INTERNATIONAL
• Group show “Artist Impressions from Pakistan” at Al-Ghwrair Centre Dubai, from 1st March to 30th March 2000.
• Group show, “Painting from Pakistan” on 14th May 2002 at the Niavaran Gallery Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran, organized by Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
PARTICIPATION IN EXHIBITIONS
NATIONAL:
• Group Exhibition held in Art Council, Lahore in 1970.
• Young Painters Association Exhibition of Paintings and Graphic Arts 1982.
• Punjab Exhibition of Paintings and Graphic Art at Lahore, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987.
• National Exhibitions of Paintings and Graphic Art at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore 1973, 1980, 1984, 1994.
• S.S. Hyder Award All Pakistan Paintings Exhibition at Abasin Art Council, Peshawar, 1984, 1985, 1986.
• Exhibition of Painting and Graphic Art on the occasion of opening ceremony of New Art Gallery “Alhamra”, on 14th August, 1984 at Lahore.
• An Exhibition and Seminar on “Art of Print Making” held on 28th – 29th January 1987 under auspices of Pakistan National Council of the Arts Islamabad.
• 1st Arts & Crafts Exhibition arranged by Lahore Chapter Institute of Architect Pakistan (IAP) November 22nd 1990 at Lahore Art Gallery.
• The First Art Biennale of Pakistan 1987 organized by Idara Saqafat-e-Pakistan (PNCA) at Alhamra, Lahore.
• Exhibition of Paintings by “Famous Artists”, organized by Alhamra Lahore Art Council, August 3, 1991.
• The Exhibition of Paintings by the “Artists of Punjab” organized by Clifton Art Gallery, September 14, 1991.
• 7th All Punjab Exhibition of Paintings and Graphic Arts October 1991.
• Exhibition of painting & Graphic Art on opening ceremony of 5th Dimension Art Gallery on 19 February 1993.
• Exhibition of painting & graphic entitled “Mera Pakistan” on 19 August 1993 at Shakir Ali Museum Lahore.
• National Exhibition and Colloquium of “Visual Arts in Pakistan”, indigenous, derivative, or cross-cultured held on 6th –7th February, 1994 organized by National Council of the Arts, Islamabad.
• Exhibition of painting & graphics on landscape / city scape of Lahore on LIFE’95 Lahore International Festival for Edutainment on November, 15th 1995, 15th November 1996.
• 7th National Exhibition on Visual Art on 24th April 1996 at National Art Gallery organized by PNCA Islamabad.
• 11th Annual Art exhibition on 15 May 1996 organized by Artist Association of Punjab.
• Touring exhibition at Murree, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala June 1996 organized by Punjab Council of the Arts.
• All Pakistan exhibition of Painting on Golden Jubilee of Pakistn on August 18, 1996 organized by Lahore Arts Coucil at Alhamra.
• Miniature Painting Exhibition at Shakir Ali Museum, Lahore 1997.
• Participated all Punjab Paintings ceramics exhibition 1997 at Rawalpndi Art Council Rawalpindi.
• Exhibition of Painting and Graphic Art arranged by Artists Association of Punjab at Lahore, May 1984, May 1985, December 1985, March 1986, November 1986, February 1987, January 1988, May 1988, February 1989, May 1990, May 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, May 1999, March 2000, 2001, April 2002 December 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
• The Exhibition entitled “Alhamra and City of Lahore” on 1st March 2000 organized by Lahore Art Council Alhamra.
• Participated Group Show at opening of Hamail Art Gallery, Lahore on 2000.
• National Exhibition of Calligraphy exhibition at National Art Gallery on 7th December, 2001, Islamabad.
• National Exhibition of Calligraphy in collaboration with Abbaseen Art Council Peshawar and PNCA, Islamabad on 11th January, 2002.
• Touring Exhibition at Multan Art Council on 11 May 2002, Faisalabad Art Council on May 2002 and Rawalpindi Arts Council on 11 June 2002 organized by Punjab Council of the Art in Collaboration with Artist Association of Punjab.
• The Ist National Exhibition of Landscape Paintings 2002 “The Vision of Landscape” at National Art Gallery, Islamabad on 26th October 2002 andAbasin Art Council, Peshawar on Monday 23rd December 2002, organized by PNCA.
• 8th National Exhibition of visual arts 2003 on Monday May 5th 2003 at Alhmara Gallery, Lahore.
• Exhibition of Paintings “56 Years of painting in Pakistan” to celebrate the independent day on 12th August 2003 at Al-Hamra Art Gallery.
• Annual Exhibition of Paintings followed by a Symposium on Friday May 29, 2009 at National Art Gallery, Islamabad.
• Exhibition Calligraphy on Monday 24 August, 2009 at Alhamra Art Gallery. Organized by Punjab Council of the Arts.
• The National Exhibition of Calligraphy, 2009 on 18, September 2009 at National Art Gallery, Islamabad.
PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
• Ninth British International Print Biennial Cartwright Hall, Lister Park, Bradford ENGLAND 23rd March, 1986.
• The 2nd Biennial Exhibition of Prints in Wakayama JAPAN March 7, 1987.
• The 3rd Biennial Exhibition of Prints in Wakayama JAPAN March 26, 1989.
• INTERGRAPHIC 87, 8th International Triennial of committed Graphic Art in the German Democratic Republic BERLIN 7th April 1987.
• 4th Asian Art Biennial DHAKA, Bangladesh 1988 1st March 1989.
• Norwegian International Print Triennial NORWAY, March 15, 1989.
• INTERGRAPHIC 90 90th International Triennial of committed Graphic Arts in the German Democratic Republic BERLIN 16th April, 1990.
• Graphics exhibition 3 International Triennial of Art “Against War” MAJDANEK’91 LUBIN (POLAND) 1991.
• 10 Norwegian International Print Triennial NORWAY, 1992.
• 18th International independent exhibition of Prints in KANAGWA 95 art YOKOHAMA, JAPAN. The HAGA KANAGAWA International Prints Festival Special exhibition.
AWARDS
• First Prize in Poster Competition in N.C.A. 1971.
• First Prize in “Graphic” from Punjab Art Council, Lahore 1977 – 1982.
• Second Prize in Graphic in S.S.Hyder Awards All Pakistan Printing & Graphic Competition at Peshawar, 1984.
• Second Prize in Graphic, from Punjab Art Council, Lahore 1984.
• National College of Arts Lahore gave an award on 4th May, 1984.
• First Prize in Graphic in S.S. Hyder Awards All Pakistan Painting & Graphic Competition at Peshawar 1985, 1986.
• 2nd Prize in “Graphic”, from Punjab Exhibition of Paintings and Graphic Arts, 1987.
• Awarded Second Prize for designing of ICI Float at National Horse and Cattle Show, Lahore on March 1984 and February 1988.
• Awarded 1994 Silver Medal in Graphic by President of Pakistan on National Exhibition of Painting Graphic & Sculpture, from National Council of the Arts Islamabad, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Government of Pakistan.
• Awarded Ist Prize in Poster Designing on “No Tolerance” outcome of the 5 days graphic workshop on “Visual Communications for Social Change” from November 12-16, 1995 at National College of Arts Lahore. The poster exhibition was jointly organized by National College of Arts and British Council Lahore.
COLLECTIONS
• New National Assembly Building, Islamabad, titled “RENDEZVOUS” I LIVED HERE”, “WALLED CITY LAHORE”, “FLOWERS IN BLUE VASE”.
• Prime Minister House, Islamabad titled “MOHALLA CHIRI MARAN, INSIDE MORI GATE, OLD LAHORE”.
• Parliament House, Islamabad titled “DELHI GATE”, “LOHARI GATE”, “ROSHANAI GATE”.
• Consulate General of the United State of America, New Office Building, Empress Road, Lahore titled “AABKARI STREET, ANARKALI”, “SHISH MAHAL STREET II” “KOOCHA BALIAN”.
• MAJDANEK State Museum LUBIN, titled “WAR’S BEGGING BOWL”.
• Pakistan Mission for United Nations office Washington, Titled “DELHI GATE”.
• Ministry of Freign Affairs for Mission abroad titled = OLD ANARKALI, OLD ANAKARI-II, ZAMZAMA.
• Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan Islamabad. Titled ‘OLD ANARKALI-II’, and ‘ZAMZAMA’.
• National Art Gallery, Islamabad “WIND, ROSHNAI GATE”.
• Alhmara Art Council Lahore, “KINGS CANON”.
• Punjab Art Council Lahore, “DELHI GATE”
• Union Bank Lahore. Titled ‘Sheesh Mehal Street’. ‘Exhibit Sheranwala Gate’, Weranda of Wazir Khan Mosque, ‘Inside Bhatti Gate’, ‘Toyseller’.
• Many other private collections in PAKISTAN, GERMANY, NEPAL, NORWAY, CANADA, ENGLAND, JAPAN, DUBLIN, POLAND, AMERICA and AUSTRALIA.
• Emirates Bank International Limited Lahore, titled: ‘Inside Bhatti Gate’ Old Lahore’.
• Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, titled: ‘Chaburji by Nights’ Medium Dry Pastel.
• President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam, titled: ‘Paisa Akhbar Street’ Medium Dry Pastel.
• Leader of the Opposition Mr. L.K.Advani, titled: ‘Sheranwala Gate’ Medium Water Color.
• Chief Minister of Delhi Ms. Sheila Dikhshit, titled: ‘Mochi Gate’ Medium Water Color.
• Chief Minister Jaipur titled: ‘Kashmiri Gate’ Medium Water Color.
• President House Islamabad Dry Pastel Drawing titled: “Aabkari Street-II Anarkali”
• Governor Punjab Presented my Dry Pastel Drawing Title “Bazar Masjid Wazir Khan” to Prince Charles on his state visit to Pakistan on 2nd November 2006.
RECOGNITIONS
• Acknowledgement in a book ‘Painting in Pakistan’ written by Mian Ejaz-ul-Hassan published by Feroze Sons.
• Acknowledgement in a book ‘Painting in Pakistan IInd Edition’ written by Mian Ejaz-ul-Hassan published by Feroze Sons.
• Acknowledgement of my work in “WHO is WHO IN INTERNATIONAL ART EDITION 1994-95 international bio-graphical art dictionary published and distributed from Switzerland in all over the world.
• Acknowledgement in a book ‘Lahore Colours’ written by Mr. Athar Tahir (Former Commissioner Lahore and Chairman Al-Hamrah Art Council) published by Al-Hamrah Art Council.
• Acknowledgement in a book ‘Pakistan Colours’ written by Mr. Athar Tahir: published by Al-Hamrah Art Council.
PRESS CLIPPINGS
More than four hundreds press clippings published by National and Regional papers, magazines and journal, about my professional activities from 1971 to 2009, well-known art critics, writers and journalists views and reviews regarding my exhibitions, struggle and achievements.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION
• Founder Member of the Artist Association of Punjab, and the Member of the Executive Committee of AAP. (Since 1984)
• Founder Member of the Young Painters Association of Punjab. (1980-1984)
• Member of Pakistan Calligraph – Artists, Guild (Since 1997)
Graduation from National College of Arts in design passed in first division with second position in NDD (National Diploma in Design) Lahore, Pakistan. 1972.