As I set foot into one of Pakistan’s most celebrated and renowned art galleries in Frere Hall, Sadequain Art Gallery, I could almost smell the oil paints used to adorn every canvas in the room. It wasn’t my imagination; I could actually feel the brush stroke on each canvas that gave life and purpose to each painting.
Each painting is a gem in its own right; in fact, it is more than just a visual treat for admirers. It enables men and women alike to feel a thousand emotions. A mere look at them is all I needed to realize that every painting has its own story to tell and that every story is as captivating as the next one.
Honestly speaking, art is a subject I have never been good at. However, that has not stopped me from being an ardent admirer, always enthralled by its beauty and magnificence. How can I resist knowing art has been a part of Pakistan’s rich culture since and before the time of the Mughal Empire? This is evident in the Indo-Islamic art and architecture, including monuments like Qutb Minar, which had characteristically amalgamated elements of Islamic and Persian art and architecture.
Fast forward today, and I take delight to note that Pakistanis share the same passion as their ancestors for it. Our country has borne some of the most extraordinary as well as inspirational artists in the world. In particular, Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi is my favorite.
Born in 1930, Sadequain descended from a family of calligraphers and was known to be a master muralist. He was one of the greatest calligraphers of his time who transformed the art of calligraphy into a mainstream art form. Fortunately, his popularity among Pakistani artists guaranteed calligraphic art dominance in the sphere. It is said that he was the only painter whose work was copied far and wide, by many painters. This shows how remarkable his artwork really is.
Sadequain is someone who gave true meaning to art in Pakistan. He helped people realize that art is much more powerful and efficacious than it is deemed to be. A simple figure on a canvas can be interpreted in million different ways. He made it easy for people to understand that art paves the path to a world filled with colour, emotions and life.
Inside the art gallery, It was a whole new world, an alternate reality that you could choose to spend time at.
It is what I do. Whenever I feel like I need inspiration of some sort or need to enjoy a moment of peace from problems in my life, I seek refuge in Sadequain’s only remaining true mark: Sadequain Art Gallery in Frere Hall. Filled with absolutely mesmerizing and unique paintings, the gallery presents a wide array of masterpieces created by the brilliant artist. The ceiling of the Frere Hall, for instance, is decorated in bold letters - Arz-o-Samawat. It means Earth and the Heavens, and bears historical significance since it was the last piece of work by Sadequain. The bright colours Sadequain used in this mural depict that the Earth and the Heavens are fading away because of the environmental conditions in our beloved city, Karachi. The mural ought to be treated as a national treasure.
In words of Pablo Picasso, “Everything you can imagine is real”. Art is something that heals an individual. It provides us with an escape from the fast track lives we live and provide us with bliss and satisfaction, even if temporarily. For me, it is my place to seek absolute refuge and delve into the beauty of our country.