Nostalgic art: Lost in the Hues of Peshawar

Ali Sajid takes us on a journey to the places lost to terrorism

LAHORE:

The beautiful Peshawar city, marred with violence and terrorism, comes to life in the vibrant watercolour paintings of Ali Sajid on display at Native Art Gallery.

The exhibition Hues, featuring 27 paintings, opened on Saturday to raving reviews from several young aspiring artists who attended the opening.



Gallery owner Asma Nabeel says she is happy with the turnout and is all praise for the artist. “I feel proud to have exhibited Sajid’s work at the gallery, “she says.

Some of Sajid’s paintings depict certain parts of Peshawar that have been bombed and no longer exist in their original form.

“Most of my work focuses on Peshawar and the city’s historic architecture in particular,” Sajid says.

The artist hails from Peshawar. “Everyone knows how much we’ve suffered at the hands of terrorism and the toll it has taken on the city,” he says.

The largest painting is centred on a marketplace that was bombed.

Sajid says he used to visit these places to research for his paintings before they were bombed. He recalls that he would visit the locations just before they were razed in attacks to sketch and draw the buildings. Most of them are no longer there.

“I have painted Peshawar in overly vibrant colours to enhance the city’s beauty, hoping that it would change perceptions regarding my city.”

Nabeel says that is what’s special about his work. Sajid’s work portrays the multifarious cultures, assets and heritage of the city. “He has mastered the art of watercolour and his colour palette is awesome. You can hardly find such bright colours in watercolour paintings because the technique is such that it mixes very fast.”

She says the technique to maintain the boldness of colour is Sajid’s forte. Nabeel lauds the perspective he has brought to the canvas. He doesn’t show Peshawar through photographs or reproductions of photos, she says. “That’s another feather in his cap.”



Sajid completed his bachelor’s degree from the Peshawar University’s Art and Design Department and won a gold medal. He completed his master’s from the same university in 2004 and went to Singapore for instruction in watercolour techniques between 2008 and 2011, and in Tokyo, Japan, between 2011 and 2013.

The exhibition will continue till December 11.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th,  2015.