Zamistan

June 25, 2024 0 Comments

A solo exhibit by artist Fazil Hussain Mousavi was recently unveiled at the Chawkandi Art Gallery, in Karachi. Curated by Aasim Akhtar, the show focused on the intertwining of the conscious and subconscious realms. The artist presented a maze-like journey that reflected upon the thoughts of Maulana Rumi, Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil and Siddhartha.

The beautifully crafted artworks dance with a harmonious blend of mediums, each contributing its unique texture and depth to the composition. Against a backdrop of softly textured paper, layers of delicate watercolour washes form a subtle gradient of colour, ranging from ethereal hues to warm earthy tones.

Across the canvas, intricate calligraphy emerges, its elegant curves and flowing lines adding a sense of rhythm and movement to the piece. The ink, applied with a steady hand, weaves a lyrical narrative that ebbs and flows with the currents of the artist’s emotions and thoughts. Interwoven with the calligraphy, delicate accents of gold leaf catch the light, casting a radiant glow that illuminates the painting from within. Like shimmering threads of sunlight filtering through a canopy of leaves, the gold leaf adds a touch of opulence and splendour to the composition, lending it an air of timeless elegance.

As you gaze upon his abstract masterpiece, you are drawn into a world of beauty and mystery, where each brushstroke and stroke of the pen tells a story waiting to be discovered. It is a celebration of creativity and craftsmanship, a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries and touch the soul.

Fazil Hussain Mousavi pursued his art education at the University of Balochistan Quetta from 1984 to 1988 before embarking on his career in art education at the Beaconhouse School System in Quetta in 1989. Transitioning to the Iqra Army Public School and College in the city in 1992, Mousavi dedicated himself to teaching until 2008, leaving behind notable contributions such as designing the logo for the APSACS (Army Public School and College System Secretariat), which remains in use, and creating sculptural forms for the School of Infantry and Tactics in 1996, as well as a relief panel in terracotta tiles for the Command and Staff College in 2004.

In 1992, Mousavi held his inaugural solo exhibition in his hometown at The Gallery, hosted within a section of the Dutch family Zwanenburg’s residence. His international debut came in 2007 at the Museum Willem van Haren in Holland. Between 2003 and 2006, he organized shows and workshops for art teachers voluntarily, leading to the establishment of the Sketch Club Quetta in 2008, where he devoted himself to teaching and curating the club’s annual exhibitions until 2013.

In 2019, Mousavi showcased his Shahnameh singing at the Sharjah Biennale. Notable recent achievements include a group exhibition featuring artworks by both Mousavi and his Sketch Club students at the Human Rights Festival 2020, held at Oxford Brookes University in the UK. In 2021, he presented his solo exhibition “Dirafsh-e Kaviyani” (Kaveh’s Banner) and performed Shahnameh singing at LUMS Gurmani Center for Languages and Literature in Lahore, Pakistan. His artwork was selected for the international art competition Ras Alkhaimah Art Festival (RAKFAF) in 2023 in the UAE. Mousavi also held a solo exhibition at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2022 and participated in the inaugural exhibition of the newly established art gallery “Numaish Gah” in 2023.