Pakistán (VI) - Saeed Akhtar, Ali Abbas

Saeed Akhtar
سعىد اختتر

El artista fotografiado por / The artist photographed by Mobeen Ansari

Nacido en 1938, Saeed Akhtar es uno de esos legendarios artistas de Pakistán cuyos nombres son simplemente un icono dentro de la industria del arte. Sus pinturas son como un espejo en el cual fácilmente puede verse sus años de incansables esfuerzos. Sus trabajos transmiten una gran profundidad filosófica y carisma. Su arte puede compararse al de otros grandes como Gulgee y Jamil Naqsh.

Pasó sus primeros años de vida en Quetta, Baluchistan, donde su padre era profesor de Urdu para las fuerzas británicas estacionadas allí. Se graduó en el Colegio Nacional de Artes de Lahore en 1964 con una maestría en escultura, tras lo cual se unió al equipo de profesores del Instituto.

Uno de sus trabajos por encargo más importante fue el retrato de Mohammad Ali Jinnah (abogado, político y estadista reconocido como el fundador de Pakistán), que pintó en 1970 y actualmente cuelga en las paredes del Banco del Estado de Pakistán. (según Wikipedia, porque según el artículo que traduzco se encuentra en la Asamblea Nacional)

Qaudi-e-Azam Muhamad Ali Jinnah, 1970

Su medio favorito es el óleo sobre lienzo. Su selección de colores es siempre vibrante y audaz, tanto como sus pinceladas. Aunque es conocido como retratista, también pinta motivos imaginarios.

Tiene un fuerte poder de observación y control sobre la pincelada. En sus retratos de mujeres refleja emociones cambiantes. Muchas veces, cuando representa mujeres con joyas, suelen ser de inspiración Rajasthaní, y los diseños son lo bastante bellos como para ser copiados por joyeros.

Nayyar Ali Dada, un conocido arquitecto, compara a Saeed con el legendario Miguel Ángel, y sentencia que ambos tienen un par de cosas en común. "Como Miguel Ángel, Akhtar tiene la perfección cuando dibuja, y rompe muchas cosas cuando está enfadado, tal como solía hacer Miguel Ángel."

Texto traducido en parte de éste, y de Wikipedia.

Saeed Akhtar is one of those legendry artists of Pakistan whose names are not less than icon in Art Industry. His paintings are like mirror where you can easily see, his years of tireless efforts. His works convey a philosophical deepness and charisma, which can be achieved in Art industry after burning midnight oil. We can simply compare his art work with other legendary artists like Gulgee and Jameel Naqsh.

Oil on canvas is Saeed’s favorite medium. His choice of colors, are always vibrant and bold just like his bold brush strokes. Although he is known for Portrait Art, but he also loves to paint his imaginary thoughts. While walking from one side to other if you look at his Horse Painting, you will notice, that variety of colors, are used in such a way, that it integrates as well as reflect, hence creates a majestic impression for the viewer. He has also drawn and old man portrait (self portrait) where you can notice, that he knows the art of playing with lines like a magician. 

His strong observation power, and control over his strokes, are crystal clear. While sketching with perfection artist, has the capability to produce new techniques. In his women paintings, he has reflected changing emotions, postures, very beautifully. In some cases, when a woman is dancing, or playing or is in deep though, every aspect and condition he portrays with his own unique style, which creates a long lasting impression for viewer. In some of his paintings, in which women are wearing jewllery, has inspirtation from Rajhistani culture. Jewllery designs in those paintings are so perfect, that jewllers would love to copy.

Saeed Akhtar is also known for his famous Portrait Painting of Qaudi-e-Azam Muhamad Ali Jinnah, about which Naazish Ata-Ullah  who is Principal at NCA, says that he was one of the God gifted genius  artists ever produced by the college and had brought a good name for the college. She said, “Whenever we see the National Assembly on television, our eyes go straight to the portrait of Quaid-e-Azam painted by Akhtar, which always makes us proud.”

Edición filatélica pakistaní "Pioneros de la libertad", con diseños de Saeed Akhtar.

La serie completa consta de 36 sellos /

Pakistani philatelic Edition "Pioneers of Freedom", with designs by Saeed Akhtar.

The complete series consists of 36 stamps.

Nayyar Ali Dada who is well known architect compares Saeed with legendary painter Michelangelo and states that both have two things in common. “Like Michelangelo, Akhtar has perfection in drawing and breaks a lot of things when he’s angry, just like Michelangelo used to”.

Like a writer who expresses his feelings with the support of a pen, an artist express himself and his views through the diverse strokes of his brush. Saeed Akhtar has a fondness for creativity as he conveys intricate messages by indulging in his most passionate pastime; painting. The veteran artist is truly an inspiration for the upcoming young generation artists.

Saeed says that colors are like life for him and in paintings when he interests and joins lines, and fills colors it gives satisfaction.

Dr Khalid Mahmud has written a book on Saeed Akhtar's works. The wide-ranging book consists of works on paper in graphite, charcoal as well as paintings in oil on canvas. The content of the book endeavor to put on scrutiny his art work, which are luxuriously steady yet resourceful and creative in nature keeping the transient moments.

Text is from an article founded here.

Otra fotografía, también de / another photography, also by Mobeen Ansari 



Ali Abbas

Acuarela sobre papel / watercolor on paper, 2008

Abbas, en sus pinturas, ha retratado el estilo de vida de las áreas rurales de Sindh. Ha capturado con vivacidad y sentimiento su existencia cotidiana.

Obtuvo su Master en Bellas Artes en la Universidad de Jamshoro (Sindh), y más tarde ejerció como profesor de Bellas Artes durante diez años.

También trabajó en el departamento de Arquitectura de la Universidad en Mehran. Actualmente trabaja como profesor asistente en el Departamento de Bellas Artes.

Hablando de sus pinturas, nos dice que su punto focal son las mujeres que llevan adelante la familia en el entorno rural gitano. Ellas son las responsables de encargarse de las tareas domésticas, traer agua desde lugares lejanos, cuidar de los niños y ocuparse también de los animales domésticos. Ésta es, de hecho, toda su existencia.

 Acuarela sobre papel / watercolor on paper

 Acuarela sobre papel / watercolor on paper

Acuarela sobre papel / watercolor on paper, 2009

Marjorie Husain, una experta en arte con varios libros en su haber, califica las pinturas y dibujos de Abbas como "Los colores del optimismo".

Comenta que "Sus dibujos y pinturas transmiten un realismo retratado con dignidad y compasión. Hay un toque de simplicidad en las deliciosas composiciones que produce, a veces destacadas por áreas cuidadosamente reproducidas con coloraciones brillantes. Sus sujetos aparecen como figuras eventualmente cobijadas en moradas transitorias, nómadas o errantes de acuerdo a las estaciones y circunstancias. Alí captura éstos fenómenos hábilmente, y las emociones que evocan las imagenes de las madres y niños en sus retratos pueden asimilarse a los sentimentos que despiertan las Madonnas de la era bizantina; un elemento de humanidad compartido a través de tiempos y territorios."
La información está tomada, entre otras fuentes, del artículo de Shamim Akhter que puede leerse (en inglés) aquí.

Abbas, in his paintings, has portrayed the living style of gypsies in rural Sindh. He has captured with vivacity and heart-felt feelings their moment-to-moment existence.

Abbas earned a Masters degree in Fine Arts from Jamshoro University, Sindh, and later became a teacher of Fine Arts in his alma mater in 1992, working there for ten years.

He also worked in the Department of Architecture, Mehran University. Currently, Abbas is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Fine Arts at the Mehran University, Jamshoro.

Talking about his paintings, he said that his point of focus was the woman who was the manager of the family in the rural gypsy setup.

She is responsible for looking after the household chores, fetching water from far-off places, caring for the children and taking care of the domestic animals as well. This is, in fact, their total existence.

Exposición de pinturas y dibujos en la Galería Ejaz en diciembre de 2011 /
Exposition of paintings and drawings in Ejaz Gallery, Dec., 2011

Marjorie Husain is a seasoned writer on art and has many books on art to her credit. She labels Abbas’s paintings and drawings as ‘Colours of Optimism”.    

Husain, commenting on Abbas’s works writes: “The drawings and paintings of Ali Abbas convey realism portrayed with dignity and compassion. There is a touching simplicity in the delightful cameos he produces, often highlighted by carefully rendered areas of bright coloration.  His subjects appear as transitory figures sheltering in temporary abodes, nomadic and wandering according to seasons and circumstances. Ali captures this phenomenon skillfully, yet the emotions evoked in the portrayals of mother and child images, can be likened to the feelings aroused in the Madonna works of the Byzantine era, an element of humanity that is shared through times and terrains.
Information mainly taken from this article of Shamim Akhter.