Locating the dispersed pieces of art
Sadequain’s nephew sets out to “locate and preserve” his uncle’s work.
ISLAMABAD:
A part of Sadequain’s work honoured the poetry of literary maestros such as Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz. But, due to the lack of inventory most of this work is scattered across the globe without trace.
Salman Ahmed, Sadequain’s nephew, is making a marked effort through his organisation the Sadequain Foundation to retrace the footsteps of his uncle so as to ensure the preservation of his uncle’s masterpieces. Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) hosted a lecture by Salman Ahmed at its premises on Friday highlighting the value of the renowned artist’s work in juxtaposition with Faiz’s poetry.
Ahmed discussed how poetry and art are correlated as disciplines of humanity. The symbolism used in Faiz’s couplets is used by Sadequain as subject matter to create his pieces.
Traditionally ghazal is a couplet written in admiration of a beloved, however accomplished artists use it as a tool to express their feelings for an “unattainable ideal”. Ahmed reveres his uncle and Faiz in kind words. He recited verses and explained them using Sadequain’s art work.
The audience included primarily art students from different universities along with professional experts.
With art lovers like Nageen Hayat in the audience, Salman Ahmed took the attendees on a journey through the past. Discussing the situation, motivation, rendition and destination of each Faiz and Sadequain, the foundation head aims at “understanding more than simply imparting information”. John F Kennedy, the former US president, has famously been quoted to have said, “If there were as many poets as politicians and as many politicians as poets, the world would be a better place.” Similarly, the organisation aims to build on this principle and spread the message of art.
Sadequain Foundation, based in San Diego is trying to catalogue the maestro’s work so it does not disappear like sand in a desert. With five published books and two more coming out this year, Ahmed says there is still a lot of work still left.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2011.
A part of Sadequain’s work honoured the poetry of literary maestros such as Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz. But, due to the lack of inventory most of this work is scattered across the globe without trace.
Salman Ahmed, Sadequain’s nephew, is making a marked effort through his organisation the Sadequain Foundation to retrace the footsteps of his uncle so as to ensure the preservation of his uncle’s masterpieces. Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) hosted a lecture by Salman Ahmed at its premises on Friday highlighting the value of the renowned artist’s work in juxtaposition with Faiz’s poetry.
Ahmed discussed how poetry and art are correlated as disciplines of humanity. The symbolism used in Faiz’s couplets is used by Sadequain as subject matter to create his pieces.
Traditionally ghazal is a couplet written in admiration of a beloved, however accomplished artists use it as a tool to express their feelings for an “unattainable ideal”. Ahmed reveres his uncle and Faiz in kind words. He recited verses and explained them using Sadequain’s art work.
The audience included primarily art students from different universities along with professional experts.
With art lovers like Nageen Hayat in the audience, Salman Ahmed took the attendees on a journey through the past. Discussing the situation, motivation, rendition and destination of each Faiz and Sadequain, the foundation head aims at “understanding more than simply imparting information”. John F Kennedy, the former US president, has famously been quoted to have said, “If there were as many poets as politicians and as many politicians as poets, the world would be a better place.” Similarly, the organisation aims to build on this principle and spread the message of art.
Sadequain Foundation, based in San Diego is trying to catalogue the maestro’s work so it does not disappear like sand in a desert. With five published books and two more coming out this year, Ahmed says there is still a lot of work still left.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2011.