Wahab Jaffer is one of Pakistan’s most respected artists and art collectors. His work has been shown in several solo and group shows, notably at the Asia-Pacific Museum in Pasadena, California and at the National Museum of Pakistan.
Like Ismail Gulgee, Jaffer first trained as an engineer in the United Kingdom and then turned to art. He was born in Poona in 1941, and started painting under the guidance of his friend, the artist Ahmed Pervez.
Jaffer also studied art with the late artist Ali Imam and worked in the gallery. One can see the influence of these artists in his work.
His figurative paintings evoke feelings of pathos and one can almost visualise the psychology of the persons depicted.
His medium of work is acrylic on canvas and paper, and oil on wood. His work is vibrant and full of colour.
He has also exhibited his artwork at the Indus Gallery and the Goethe-Institut. His recent works remind one of the rich colours and hues of Latin America, and his latest paintings have a carnival atmosphere.
His series of abstracts are simple and yet complicated – the duality arising from the use of a myriad of colours to explore shapes and forms.
Peering closely at them often leads one to seek some meaning in the swirls, and there are instances when one could make out a face or maybe an arm out of the chaos of lines.
Jaffer’s works have also been displayed in Mumbai, New Delhi and Canada, where they were also shown at a juried exhibition held at the Art Gallery of Peel in Brampton, Ontario.
Photos courtesy Zanbeel Art
