Broad strokes: Infinity: exploring the endless opportunities for art

Established by two 20-somethings, the studio aims to breathe life into an otherwise docile art scene <br /> of the city.

PESHAWAR:

Art has not left the building, not yet. One of the few artists known in the city for his oil paintings and pottery work, 26-year-old Imran Khan has established a studio at City Tower in University Town to ensure it doesn’t.

Khan’s venture ‘Infinity’ has been set up in collaboration with graphic designer Shams Tamu, 25, to train aspiring artists. And as the name suggests, both young men want to turn the limited opportunities for artists in the province to endless ones.

Imran Khan, 26, paints a vase at his studio. PHOTOS: HIDAYAT KHAN/EXPRESS

“It is a personal venture. It will not only help me train young artists, but also satisfy my own love for art,” Khan told The Express Tribune.

In his thirties, Khan is hard of hearing. However, his eye for aesthetics more than makes up for that. The two-room studio is neat and spacious. The walls have been adorned with Khan’s works in oil. Paint brushes and pots of all shapes and sizes have been stacked on a small table in one of the two rooms.

It is clear the studio is still getting its final touches. Some of the framed portraits have been hung on the walls while others lay strewn around. In the other room, a group of students are busy working on a painting spread out on the floor.

“Within a week, we had eight students who were interested in learning about various forms of painting, pottery and other fields of contemporary art,” said Khan.

Though he is adamant to attract more students and enhance the facilities he has to offer, Khan is aware of the challenges that lie ahead. “The project is in its initial stages. There are many financial problems that need to be resolved.”

The monetary considerations, however, will not deter Khan from imparting skills to artists. “I want them to impart their love and knowledge of the arts to others and use it to preserve their own culture.”

Institutionalising art

The only university which has a fine arts department in K-P is the University of Peshawar. “However, people are not satisfied with the quality of work being produced at the university,” Khan said, adding: “In the past, the Abasin Arts Council and the Khana-e-Farhang Iran introduced unique means of polishing the skills of budding artists. However, such initiatives are not being undertaken anymore.”

Imran Khan, 26, paints a vase at his studio. PHOTOS: HIDAYAT KHAN/EXPRESS

According to Shams Tamu, there are countless hurdles to teaching art at the university level. “There is a dearth of trained academics. Moreover, there are very few galleries where artists can exhibit their work,” said the graphic designer.



“More art galleries must be set up in Peshawar to encourage and promote new artists. There is not even a single gallery where the artists can put their paintings, pottery and sculptures for public exhibitions,” he stressed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2014.