A strong aesthetic sense not only enhances personal well-being but also cultivates sensitivity to beauty and meaning in society.

ASA: How did you become an artist?
Riaz Rafi: I have been drawing figures and lines on  takhti since childhood. As I progressed to middle school, I discovered the Urdu column Tasveer Aur Musawir by Shafi Aqeel in Jang, which introduced me to prominent artists such as Guljee and Ali Imam. My formative years in Sukkur were instrumental in shaping my artistic interests and aspirations.
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Captivating, Unique Art of Saqib Mughal

Nigaah recently interviewed Houston based Pakistani Artist Saqib Mughal who has a unique artistic style. His work has also inspired some artists and his work has also been plagiarized. Here he talks to Nigaah about his artistic journey. Q. Tell us how you became an artist? SM: I believe everyone has a natural ability to express themselves visually; it’s a universal language. For me, this instinct began in childhood when I created art to communicate my feelings through sketches and projects. As I grew older, I recognized that art was more than a pastime—it became a way for me to express my ideas and emotions. Q. Who are your biggest artistic influences? SM: I find inspiration in the rich symbolism of Renaissance paintings, which convey complex ideas through imagery. My biggest influences also come from everyday life—experiences, emotions, and the stories of those around me. These elements shape the themes

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Nilima Sheikh’s art deeply connected with society

Nilima Sheikh earned international acclaim in 1984-1985 for the delicately constructed series ‘When Champa Grew Up,’ a narrative series which told the tragic tale of a woman murdered for her dowry money by her husband’s family, in twelve frames. Sheikh has since built up a repertoire of sensitive work that dwells on her own experiences and immediate environs, as well as commentaries on collective history and tradition, human situations and gender issues. Using traditional tempera and casein techniques she makes paintings that demonstrate a deep relationship with drawing and colour to produce poetic visualisations of the mundane and the fantastic. Having inherited a concern with traditional art forms from her teacher K.G. Subramanyan, she has developed a practice that is as experimental as it is grounded in its uses of technique. Born in 1945 in an undivided, pre-independent India, at New Delhi, Nilima Sheikh studied history at the Delhi University

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Nigaah Art Award Winner Shakeel Siddiqui (1951 – 2018), Unparalleled Super realistic Painter Remembered.

Shakeel Siddiqui was born in 1951 and died in January 2018. Shakeel left behind a legacy through his paintings. A legacy of a constant war being waged against what the norm dictated as high art or art that is inferior. Often still lives painted in realist style are considered “old school”. Today performance art and digital media coupled with abstract expressionism are the pet mediums for an individual to be known as an artist to be reckoned with. But Shakeel Siddiqui went against the current. He painted not to make a statement or prove that he was a socially conscious artist. He painted because his heart desired to capture the lace cloth juxtaposed carelessly on a table to a point of such minute and infinite detail that it should appear palpable. The reflection of light in a teapot should be so lifelike that the audience should feel the tangible smoothness

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NEXUS OF THE CONTEMPORARY ART TRENDS IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s artistic landscape is a vibrant and fertile terrain, both locally and globally. The country’s contemporary art scene has garnered significant international attention in recent years, solidifying its position as the most dynamic in South Asia. Pakistani artists have consistently challenged cultural norms, reclaiming individualism as a form of resistance against censorship. Contemporary art, a term denoting artistic productions from the latter half of the 20th century to the present, is characterized by diversity and experimentation. Artists respond to the rapidly changing global environment, employing various mediums to reflect and critique contemporary society. Scholars and analysts have acknowledged “the contemporary” as a distinct era in art and cultural development, encompassing diverse forms like painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video art. Contemporary art is a dynamic, heterogeneous, and ever-evolving entity that defies conventional norms and categorizations, reflecting the complex, globally interconnected, and technologically advancing world we inhabit. In Pakistan, the

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Mobina creates a bond with a happening, an instinct, or a desire

Mobina Zuberi has contributed significantly in Pakistani art scene, both as a curator and as an artist. She established “The Art Gallery” in early 90s in Islamabad in the Diplomatic Enclave, which later moved to F-6 Sector and changed it’s name to Khaas Gallery. Mobina remained associated with it for several years, till she handed it over to her partner Zeeshan Afzal Khan. Mobina has been painting since the 1970s and over the years she has produced diverse series of work. Her upcoming exhibition “Fragments of the Unseen” is opening at the Gallery 6 Islamabad on 04 October 2024. Interestingly, the show has two very different genres of paintings with distinct interaction – one dealing with women and the other with abstract compositions. Mobina’s paintings of women are not complex illustrations. Her women are neither beautiful glamorous woman nor are they fairy tales princesses, mythological figures, embodiments of fertility, or

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In Review

Hamza Qazi, a Lahore born artist, makes quote a statement with his art. The detailed line work, drapes of fabric as they fold and blend into each other is mesmerising. In one of the pieces, which looks like a tulip flower at first glance, one can see the outline of what seem to be baby legs. Perhaps the flower like shape signifies the woman’s uterus and the baby within holds the promise of a better and brighter future.     Aimen Kathia’s work are mainly a fusion of magic realism and surrealism which aim to explore the layers of tormented innocence, adolescence and grief. Her colour palette is vibrant and aesthetically pleasing. Her intricate details and sure brushstrokes are confident and bold. Ayesha Naeem is a visual artist and art curator. Her medium varies between oil paints and photography. Her current work is oil on canvas and she beautiful captures

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DEFINED

A group show at O Art Space showcasing the works of Bazil Habib, Mamoon Tahir, Unab Sumble and Zaid Baloch. Bazil Habib is a Pakistani artist born in Lahore in 1997, received his intermediate degree in Fine Arts from Government College Lahore. He later graduated with a degree in Fine Arts, majoring in painting, from the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, in 2021. His strong brushstrokes, clear linework and vibrant colour pallet make his paintings pop.   Mamoon Tahir is intrigued by the relationships between humans, animals, nature, forms and spaces. His creative process allows him to mix observation with imagination and his current body of work is a testament to that. His detailed brush work and bold strokes make his paintings stand out.   Unab Sumble takes everyday ordinary moments of life and immortalises them on her canvas. Her work mainly makes use of ink and acrylic. She

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Magical Orchid II, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 x 20 Inches.

Natures Muse – A Floral Symphony

A solo show by Faiqa Uppal at Muse Art Gallery was recently held exhibiting the most recent works of the artist. Through bright and vivid colours and expressive brushstrokes, each piece is full of life, vibrancy and energy. Faiqa shares her vision for the exhibition, “this floral collection is not only a celebration of nature’s beauty, but also a call to preserve it. Each bloom I paint reflects the delicate balance of our planet, a reminder of the intricate connections that sustain life. Through these works, I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for nature and a renewed commitment to protecting our environment for future generations”. Her colour palette is cheerful and vibrant, and this draws the viewers in immediately. The bright colours are a reminder of all that nature has to offer. Complimentary colours like pinks and sea green together and orange and colbat blue make her work stand

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Fading Echoes

A one person show displaying the works of Razin Rubin was held at Chawkandi Art Gallery in Karachi. The artist work focuses on the exploration of memory, family history and the transformative nature of time. “I recreate photographs from my family archives and revert to the moments that have passed. I not only draw the people in the photographs but also portray their stories, and experiences that shaped our family. The gestures, the laughter, and the quiet exchanges that are portrayed in my work are lost to time. They belong to a different era, to people who have since changed. Their bodies have aged, and some are no longer with us. My work emphasizes this fragility, the way life moves forward even as we try to hold on to the past. “   The objects portrayed in his work such as furniture, clothing, familiar spaces act as tangible reminders of

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Minimum Standards

The VM Art Gallery, in collaboration with The Embassy of Spain in Pakistan, displayed the works of artist Fernando Martin Godoy. Godoy is a Spanish visual artist, based out of London. The artist dabbles in various mediums and his focus is on contemporary art.   This exhibition features small-format drawings framed in antique miniature frames, inviting intimate viewer engagement. His work covers collage, sculpture and installations. His work focuses on viewer experience, with color and scale being as vital as ideas. Themes of memory, identity, and boundaries between the real and fictional are covered in this exhibition.   There is heavy influence by Spanish Baroque painting, his art speaks to contemporary experiences through visual language and encourages the viewers to engage in debate and discourse.   This exhibition at VM Art Gallery highlights the impact of Godoy’s work in relation to Pakistan’s rich tradition of miniature painting, emphasizing his perspective

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Art in Flux; where the tide meets the currents

A group show at Art Scene Gallery showcased the works of some of Pakistan’s finest artists. Art in Flux brings together a diverse group of artists whose works reflect the meeting of different artistic approaches, philosophies and media, displaying their works at this exhibition were Abdul Jabbar Khan, Noor Mohyuddin, Kamran Khaskheli, Mahwish Khan, Urooj Faheem, Zahra Jadoon, Hira Imtiaz, Sana Nezam, Mariya Shaikh, Aimen Tirmizi and Farah Anwer. Qasim Bugti, the curator of show, shares “In this space, art is not static but in a state of constant flux – a living dialogue between the past and the present, the familiar and the avant-garde, the personal and universal. The artworks presented here push the boundaries of perception, encouraging the viewer to navigate the shifting rides of meaning and interpretation”. Sana Nezam explores the balance between chaos, tranquility, embodied in the juxtaposition of abstract and representational elements. The textured, vivid

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Earth Water & Sky

A group show held in Lahore at O Art Space displayed the works of Afshar Malik, Ahmed Javed, Ahsan Memon, Atif Khan, Ali Baba, Mughees Riaz, Jamil Baloch, Sadaf Naeem, Sana Arjumand, Rabeya Jalil to name a few of the artists. Ali Baba trained as a painter but mostly works in sculpture and installations. His main focus is the human existence, its condition and the sculpture itself. He mostly works in negative and positive life casts of human body and its parts. His work is intricate, and very realistic, due to the close attention to detail.   Jamil Baloch’s work signifies different behaviours of society. His work shows that we belong to a rich cultural heritage, and he adds touches of modernity to his work to make it relevant. His earlier work focused on violence and cruelty of power and the continuous struggle to survive, but he is also inspired

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Conversations from the Past

A solo show displaying the works of Ameer Umar was held ar Art Chowk Gallery. The show provided insight into the artists unique thought process and showcased his talent and skill. Ameer Umar Khan is a self-taught contemporary artist creating realist and impressionist portraits and figures subtly influenced by renaissance, American illustrators, impressionists and Russian academic art.   “My Art initiated from an attempt to studying human anatomy and the focus progressively shifted to now almost purely exploring the aesthetics and design. It’s a constant effort for me to find the balance between trying to keep a harmony between different works so there is a signature there yet not being monotonous with the style or simply say a balance between style (consistency) and character (individuality).”   Ameer’s colour palette is varied, but the artist seems to heavily favour darker, more somber colours. This adds depth to his portraits, making the

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Wahab Once Again

Artchowk Gallery in Karachi recently held a solo show displaying Wahab Jaffer’s beautiful paintings. Aesthetically pleasing and a visual treat for all his viewers. Wahab Jaffer is one of Pakistan’s most renowned and well-respected artists. Not only is he an established artist, locally as well as internationally, he is an art collector himself and has large and varied collection of some of Pakistan’s greatest artists. He started painting in the 1970’s under the patronage of Pakistan’s iconic painters such as Ahmed Parvez, Ali Imam and Bashir Mirza. One can certainly see the strong influence these artists had on his art. His vivid and vibrant colour palette, reminiscent of Ahmed Parvez’s bright and cheerful colours in his own work, immediately grabs the attention of the viewers. Bold, sweeping brushstrokes and firm lines dominate the canvas. One can tell that Wahab Jaffer’s biggest inspiration is colour. He once reportedly said, “I love

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