LAHORE:
“Shakir Ali was a great artist and inspired an entire generation of young artists to follow in his footsteps and be bold in their creations,” friends, colleagues and Ali’s students said during a function held to celebrate the artist’s 95th birth anniversary on Sunday. The event was organised by the Pakistan National Council of the Art (PNCA) at the Shakir Ali Museum.
The celebrations were attended by a large number of artists, students and art enthusiasts. Shakir Ali once said “I want my studio to be a place which artists, students and art lovers freely visit”. Shakir Ali Museum, the house the great artist had lived in, is now a museum. The evening was marked with nostalgia, as the artist’s friends and students recounted tales of his work and his passion for art.
Architect Nayyar Ali Dada, one of Shakir Ali’s favourite students said,“Chughtai and Sadeqain’s students failed to demonstrate the greatness that their teachers had but the work of Shakir Ali’s students continues to reflect that they were trained by a legendary artist.”
Another Shakir Ali student, Muhammad Javed said that it was quite difficult to comprehend Ali’s style because he was a perfectionist. He said, “Even though he was an abstract painter his drawing was exceptional.
His lines were always straight and balanced”.
Former Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) director general Naeem Tahir said that Shakir Ali was quite young when he joined the art council after returning from America. “Many people turned against him because of the decision but Shakir Saab was an island of patience. He never said anything discouraging and his work was always appreciated,” he said.
Writer Intezar Hussain, who chaired the ceremony, said “Shakir Ali used to visit the Coffee House a lot. It was a place for many young artists to spend time and exchange views,” he said, adding “He had written quite a few stories but never showed them to us so we used to have sittings at the Tea House where I often met him.” “He was and always will be considered a giant in his field”.
PNCA director general Tauqeer Nasir said that the PNCA celebrated Ali’s birthday to pay tribute to the great artist and remember his work. An exhibition of new work by Nauman Ghauri was also opened at the Shakir Ali Museum later on the same day.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 7th, 2011.
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