HYDERABAD:
The first death anniversary of the great artist Abdur Rahim Nagori, who shot to fame for his radical socio-political paintings, went by unnoticed in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Even Sindh University, where he founded the fine art department, did not organise any event. However, a commemorative ceremony is being organised in Karachi at the Art Scene Gallery where artists will gather to pay him tribute, said Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, a colleague and friend. Nagori was born in Junagadh in 1938 and passed away in Hyderabad on January 14, 2011.
He held his first solo exhibition in 1958 and is said to be the pioneer of socio-political paintings in Pakistan. An exhibition to spotlight anti-militarism in 1982 attracted a ban on his work during Zia’s regime.
He produced extensive artwork against martial law, dictatorship, suppression and violence against women and on minority rights. Nagori received the presidential pride of performance months before his death.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2012.
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It is a great pity that great artists are not given their due credit in our country. It is very important to understand the contribution of artists like Nagori and poets like Faiz and Jalib, who taught that protest can be through non-violent means, Our country is passing through a critical phase and it is essential the our national heros are valued, otherwise the young of the country have no role models to look up to and emulate.