Sculptor Shahid Sajjad was born in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1937. The most prominent sculptor in Pakistan in the late 20th century, Sajjad pioneered the art form and gave it credibility. He had neither tradition to follow nor models to emulate since Pakistan, created in 1947 as a Muslim country, did not encourage three-dimensional art.
At a young age, he became interested in calligraphy and soon mastered the skill. He practiced drawing and carefully observed signboard painters at work. He became a successful commercial artist, dabbling in filmmaking and painting. A restless soul, he spent three years travelling across Europe and Asia on a motorcycle.
He was particularly fascinated by the woodcarvings of Bali, the Philippines and Japan, and by wood reliefs by Paul Gauguin in the Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.
Photos courtesy VASL Art
Sajjad – the pioneer of sculpting in Pakistan
