Veteran artist ‘brilliantly’ captures Quaid-e-Azam’s visage

The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) hosted a solo exhibition of paintings and drawings by Ali Azmat, a veteran artist, on the occasion of the 76th independence anniversary of Pakistan on August 14 in collaboration with ForArtSake curated by Amna Pataudi and Dr Rahat Naveed Masood.

The exhibition was inaugurated by President Dr Arif Alvi and his wife Begum Samina Arif Alvi, who appreciated the artist’s contribution to the promotion of art and culture in the country.

“Quaid-e-Azam gifted us Pakistan after an epic struggle for which people paid a heavy price, many with their lives,” President Alvi said. “While we can be proud of achievements we made as a nation. I do feel that there are some areas where we could do better,” he added.

This travelling exhibition was shown before in Lahore and will be taken to Gilgit next. Through his works, Azmat adds colour, and aesthetics, and takes up the responsibility to bring clarity and awareness in the larger political landscape of the country. Azmat has accomplished this feat remarkably well in his works.

As you walk from one painting to another, you can see how brilliantly Azmat captures the changing expressions of Quaid’s visage. He has a benign smile in one, changes into mild bewilderment in the next; looks melancholic sometimes and saddened in others.

The repertoire of expressions is as rich as the colourful strokes of the artist. His works reflect his love for nature, history, and spirituality, as well as his social commentary on contemporary issues. He uses various mediums and techniques, such as oil, watercolour, acrylic, collage, and mixed media, to create his unique style.

During his speech at the opening ceremony, Azmat said: “The affection displayed in these paintings not only expresses my love for our leader but also serves as a humble effort to keep this love alive in the hearts of future generations. As for how successful my efforts have been, I leave that judgment to the observers.”

The exhibition will remain open for public viewing till August 20 at the National Art Gallery of the PNCA. It is part of PNCA’s efforts to promote art and culture in Pakistan and to celebrate the country’s Independence Day with pride and joy.

The show was heavily visited by a large audience including artists, students, government officials and media persons. A large number of students also visited the show and interviewed the artists about their techniques and art practices.

The PNCA is dedicated to promoting Pakistani art on a local and international scale.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2023.