Sufi Themes in Exhibition of Noted Painter Sabir Nazar at Nairang Gallery in Lahore

Noted painter Sabir Nazar back with exhibition at Nairang Gallery

By Shoaib Ahmed

Wednesday, November 23, 2005 Daily Times (Pakistan)

LAHORE: Noted painter, illustrator and cartoonist Sabir Nazar may have presented his work after a hiatus of 10 years but he has made his appearance felt. Nazar’s exhibition, which opened to premiere on November 27, is a source of inspiration for art enthusiasts of the city.

Sabir’s first show was held in 1995 at Lahore Art Gallery, featuring a mixed collection of works and now he has put on display his second solo exhibition at Nairang. He has two group shows to his credit as well, which were held in 1980 in Islamabad and Karachi.

The exhibition at Nairang had a lot to offer in terms of imagination aimed at society’s socio-political issues. Blue was the dominant colour in his paintings, which were vivid expressions of social and political impressions on a society, wrapped in layers of tradition and given a modern touch. A total 22 paintings were put on display, covering a vast range of subjects with Sufism as the predominant factor. Historical figures, myths and tales also found a place on Sabir’s canvass. Historical figures such as Ranjah, a lover; Sheikh Sarmad, a Sufi; Ahmed Khan Karal, a warrior; Puran Bhaggat; a hermit and Madhu Lal Hussain, a saint, are some of the characters that he portrayed in his paintings.

The paintings appear to be miniatures at first sight, but a closer look reveals the artist’s beautiful use of watercolours.

Sabir told Daily Times that he had been using watercolours since 1972. “I took admission in NCA in the 80s as a student of architecture, a paying field indeed, but my passion for painting left me with no choice, but to take admission in the fine arts department after studying architecture for three years,” he said, perhaps explaining the reason behind an architectural touch to his paintings.

His work revolves around social and symbolic subjects and his cartoons affect his paintings to a great extent, which highlight political changes. “When it comes to the colours that I use in my paintings, I am inspired by French painter Goughan and sub-continent artist Amrita Sher Dil, the daughter of a Hungarian mother and Sikh father, the first modern painter of the region,” he added. Sabir started his career as a cartoonist working for Friday Time in 1991 and designed the famous three horses in Defence.