The saga of Sadequain, a solo exhibition of legendary Sadequain’s works, is serving as an engaging opportunity for researchers, art students, critics, historians and other interested to visit and explore the philosophy behind each one of his canvas here at the National Art Gallery.
The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) has dedicated a gallery fully to Sadequain with permanent display of large illustrative mural paintings that visualize the poetry of Iqbal, Ghalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
The exquisite collection of art by legendary artist Sadequain is the major attraction for visitors of National Art Gallery, said Director General PNCA, Tauqeer Nasir, while talking to APP here Monday.
The rich and versatile display is the second largest exhibition of Sadequain’s work since he expired in 1987.
Large murals visualizing the poetry of Ghalib, Iqbal and Faiz with eye-catching display not only feature masterly techniques but also beautifully serve the art lovers as a treat of visual art.
The solo show captures illustrations and interpretations on ‘Mystic Expressions by Sadequain’ an odyssey to exaltation with Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz and Sadequain with comprehensive retrospect of his palette representing a confluence of the most extraordinary talent of the art and literature.
The prolific painter and a poet of substantial standing who ruled the art scene for over five decades, during the creative journey, created amazingly large body of work which include countless paintings, murals, sketches, drawings, calligraphies and composed and illustrated his ‘Rubaiyaat’.
His large murals earned him worldwide respect and admiration while he was awarded ‘Tamgha-e-Imtiaz’ at the age of thirty followed by “Laureate Biennale de Paris.” President’s Medal for ‘Pride of Performance’, ‘Sitara-e-Imtiaz’, ‘Quaid-e-Azam Award’ and International Gold Mercury Award.
The rich collection of Sadequain’s work and the exhibition of relevantly large-size paintings (murals) put together celebrates and acknowledges the contributions of the celebrity.
The show presents 13 murals (illustrations/interpretation) on Iqbal’s poetry, visual references from two of his monumental Murals, 12 illustrations, oil on canvas on Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry and three images showcasing colossal Murals done for Lahore Museum.
Sadequain was deeply interested in the issues that have challenged the best minds of the human race – the questions about the mysteries of the universe, meaning of life, role of human beings in the universe, freedom and self determination, survival and progress, and the fine line between reason and emotion.
The verses that Sadequain selected to illustrate reflect various states of self-realization and consciousness. As archetypal expressions of mystic vision, these paintings hold a beacon to the path of enlightenment and guide through the gateway of spiritual freedom. In these paintings, Sadequain seeks to share his observations, experiences and interpretations of the truth and his relationship to the world around him and beyond through the poetry of his choice.
Sadequain is known to have painted day and night all through his life and it is estimated that he painted over 15000 pieces but did not keep an inventory and traces of most of his works do not exist.
“The exhibition is an effort to relive the legacy, celebrate it in a benefiting manner and let the world know about the great painter of his time, who shall continue to rule the art world,” Tauqeer Nasir said.
