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Sadequain - Remarkable Messenger of Pakistani Art

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His fingers were long and thin. he hold his brush for a extended period of time.which resulted in this fingers shape. I saw in a live programme. He showed it.
 
Sadequain fell in love with the mystic concept of Malamat (grotesque), where the Sufis, by rejecting the accepted law, try to explore a personal relationship with the Almighty.

Akbar Naqvi in his book Image and Identity comments on this aspect as: “Sadequain’s art enacted the drama of malamat in its Zahiri (external) and Batini (internal) aspects — the coincidence and confusion of appearance and reality as awareness of truth in the definition of the self.” Much has been written and assumed about the personality of Sadequain.


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Sadequain Art Gallery - Frere Hall - Karachi - Pakistan

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The original piece by renowned artist, Sadequain who I can without any doubts say is the man who literally owns the entire Frere Hall and for many people who don't know? The hall actually is known as Sadequain Art Gallery too because all major art works by him are kept there for public display. This one's was a tall piece of art showing him standing with Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah all by the master himself


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Death anniversary of Sadequain – The Ultimate Artist and Calligrapher.

Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi was born in 1930 in Amroha and he died on 10th February in 1987 at the age of 57 years in Karachi, Pakistan.

Sadequain was a world renowned Pakistani Art legend. He was best known for his independent real creative art and novice trends in Islamic Calligraphy. His original superb themes and huge murals dwarf many and some are still regarded as matchless in the world. His international recognition was due to introduction of new initiatives and trends in art and particularly poetic calligraphy which was almost nonexistent then.

He was a self-made, self taught painter, completely untraditional and above all, shows no signs of being inspired by any other master of art who lived before him or at his time.

Sadequain received well deserved decorations.


1960 – Government of Pakistan — “ Tamgha-e-Imtiaz”
1961 – Government of France — “Biennale de Paris”
1962 – President of Pakistan — “President’s Medal of Honor”
1975 – Government of Australia — “Cultural Award”
1980 – Government of Pakistan — “Sitara-e-Imtiaz”

Sadequain was a master genius of his own self-inspired school of thought and different from other great artists like Michael Angelo and Leonardo de Vinci. This fact was proved later by the performance presented by him in his early life. Like many other masters he too was completely obscure, until he was noticed, hand –picked and appreciated by the notable lover of arts Mr. Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy. It is natural that a true genius sees the limelight once and then the “limelight” itself focuses on him and seldom misses him till the last day. He had stepped into the open world to breathe and expose his talents independently – and this he did with utmost honesty without being distracted by worldly glamour.

Sadequain projected his abilities and hidden talents by his masterly performance in his mid twenties. This comparative quicker recognition laid the foundation and encouraged him to present his true inner feelings in his artworks. Soon he created his own independent place in the world that remained still unmatched, in certain aspects, during his lifetime and even after. He was only 30 years when he received his first award in 1960 and 32 years when the French Government decorated him.Sadequain was one of the most hard-working artists that the world has seen. His non-stop untiring career was very unusual for all his critics too. Wealth had least attraction for him and avoided to paint for the rich. He preferred to gift away thousands of his art productions instead of selling. Numerous works were stolen and he least bothered about them.

He believed in realism and lycricism. He was miles away from imaginary fairytale, flower and fona themes and stuck to basic worldly realities till his last day. The Novice style of his presentation of Quranic and Poetic verses created an everlasting impact on Pakistani Art. The non-existant calligraphy has changed into a culture and this new introduction is still flourishing beyond bounds and spreading inspiration worldwide, even after a quarter century beyond his death. Now his style and his paintings are also being copied extensively in Pakistan. Infact this piracy is promoting his school of thought, unnoticed.

Sadequain once saw a tough cactus tree growing and flourishing in a desert. He was spiritually impressed by the difficult lifestyle in extreme tough surroundings of this self-growing plant. This impression is often reflected in Sadequain’s tough and rugged human figures that seem unnatural, but actually he intended to expose the rigid uneven patterns of the life spent by the deprived. His works and productions are discernable and can easily be singled out. His unique independent style, objective concepts and presentation modes cannot be stolen by just putting on new names – but can only be copied along with his signatures.

The following are a few of his memorable works and exhibitions;


1954 – Solo Exhibition in Quetta, Pakistan
1955 – Mural at Jinnah Hospital, Solo Exhibition at Frere Hall and at residence of Mr. Suhrawady.
1961 – Mural at State Bank of Pakistan, (62 x 10ft) titled as “Treasures of Time”. This mural illustrates human scientific development from Socrates to Einstein and Muhammed Iqbal. He was invited to France to illustrate French Nobel Prize Winning writer Albert Camus.
1963 – Several Exhibitions in USA
1963 – Illustrated “Le Etranger” in France
1967 – Mural at Mangla Dam Power House (200 x 30ft) titled as “Saga of Labor” This mural lime lights the importance of the working class and its contributions in a society. Completed in 3.5 months only.
1968 – Mural at Punjab University Library, titled as “Quest of Knowledge”
1969 – Calligraphic redention of “Sura-e-Rehman”
1973 – Murals at Lahore Museum entrance Hall and others (100 x 35ft) titled as “Evolution of Mankind”
1974 – Exhibitions in Middle East and Eastern Europe.
1976 – TV. Series “Mojiza-e-fun” on Sadequain Art.
1977 – Illustrated Mirza Ghalib (Indian Poet)
1979 – Mural in Abu Dhabi power house (70 x 12ft)
1981 – Murals painted at Aligarh (70 x 12ft), Banaras (70 x 12ft), Hyderabad and Geological Institute of Delhi, India (70 x 25ft)
1985 – Illustrated Faiz Ahmed Faiz (Pakistani Poet)
1986 – Mural at Frere Hall titled as “Arz-o-Samawat” (heaven and earth)


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Ibne Insha & Sadequain in 1970's ....

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he belonged to a good time. a golden era when Pakistan produced poets, artists, intellectuals who excelled and made names for themselves as well as for Pakistan. sad that today all we produce are hari pagdi wale and white people wannabes. even our urdu has become accented. :(
 
He was one of those Pakistani who made this country proud of. Truly a gem of this soil.
 
SADEQUAIN FETCHES RECORD PRICE


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Crucifixion


During a first-ever sale devoted entirely to ‘Art of Pakistan’ this year at Bonhams in London, Sadequain’s “Crucifixion” (1968), fetched a record breaking 118,750 pounds (around 16 million Pakistani rupees). Sold in collaboration with Seemah Niaz of Unicorn Gallery to a mysterious bidder, the work came from the collection of Rukhsana and Ahmed Maqsood Hamidi.

Belonging to the artist’s Crucifixion Series this painting is cast in the upright cactus structure. Bristling with life in spite of a hostile environment, the cactus is Sadequain’s most widely known symbol of resistance and resilience in his crusade against hypocrisy, corruption and injustice. Painted in somber shades of grey, the writhing apparition imprisoned in a cactus configuration, is a depiction of intense torment and suffering. Technically conforming to the artist’s treatment of his mystic figurations, the restless — barely alive — febrile figure is an illustration of soul-baring lamentation — as if protesting till one’s last breath.

Today as the world roils in the grip of extremism Sadequain’s art is as much of the times (if not more) than it was in the ’60s. His thematic stance of Sufism and Malamat (condemnation) is being viewed through contemporary lens by new audiences. Already acknowledged and celebrated at home, his art philosophy is generating interest in audiences abroad as the human conflicts he paints have universal and timeless appeal.

Commenting on the significance of the current auction, Tahmina Ghaffar, Bonhams’ Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art specialist says: “Bonhams has been a proud supporter of Pakistani art for a number of years, and this auction is in direct response to the increasing demand from collectors. Long considered secondary, perhaps to other regional markets, the art of Pakistan stands independently as an art market of great importance globally.”
 
Google honours Sadequain on 87th birthday with doodle

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Islamic calligrapher and one of Pakistan’s most popular and prolific artists Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi has been honoured by Google on his 87th birthday with a doodle.

Google said they are honouring “his contributions to the arts and to public space.”

Sadequain was born in June 30, 1923 in British India and passed away on February 10, 1987 in Karachi.

He “stroked new life into the centuries-old art of Islamic calligraphy, turning words into vibrantly detailed expressionist paintings”, according to Google. He painted vast murals and even wrote powerful poetry. Despite his talent, Sadequain rejected material wealth and “was known to give his paintings away for free, even refusing to take on commissions from royalty and heads of state around the world.”

Many of Sadequain’s prolific works still adorn walls of public buildings in Pakistan and India. These include ‘Quest for Knowledge’ on the ceiling of Lahore Museum and his mural on the ceiling of Frere Hall in Karachi. Work on the latter started in 1986 and was left incomplete on February 10, 1987 because of his death.

Sadequain received national awards, including the Presidential Medal of Honour. International art circles also recognised his work and in 1960 he received the Paris Biennale Prize.
 

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