Alliance Française exhibits Tanveer Shams artwork
Ahtesham Azhar
KARACHI: Alliance Française Karachi (AFK) recently organised a solo exhibition of artwork by renowned artist S Tnaveer Shams here at the AFK.
Shams, a prolific painter, illustrator and graphic designer, born in 1944. He received his early training by well-known artist Mohammad Latif who followed academic style taught at the Arts Schools of Calcutta, Lahore under the British rule. He was nevertheless influenced by the new art style, chiefly abstract expressionism which he adopted at the start of his career as a graphic artist and illustrator in a leading advertising firm, where he had ample opportunity to study and practice the contemporary art in action. And acrylic with its ease of application and quick drying quality became his favorite medium along with watercolour and Indian ink.
Shams’ art is a blend of realism and abstract expressionism and the scenes he loves to paint are located in his spiritual home, Saudi Arabia, where he lived off and on for more than 25 years.
Drawing upon his Pakistani and Saudi Arabia heritage, and vast experience in the field of communication world, he has produced a large number of memorable works of art, which adorn many homes and work places in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The many calendars he has designed and painted for Saudi Arabian Airlines have been acclaimed as amongst the best in the world of Art.
Since 1963, he held over a dozen one man shows, participated in scores of group exhibitions and won many awards.
He is presently engaged in a highly ambitious project on behalf of his old patron, the Saudi Arabian Airlines. It is a sort of a kaleidoscopic mirror of Saudi Arabia’s hoary visage not less than its current youthful face. This will serve as a prelude to what he expects to be his lifetime achievement, a vast mural depicting the arts, architecture and civilisation of Saudi Arabia through the ages.
In the world of a Pakistan critic, the Arab heart of the painter guides a Pakistani hand with a western eye to produce an art, which could be described as a composition global art.
In this exhibition, he presented his work on the theme of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia through paintings of historical buildings and places. His 36 paintings were on display, some of them were luring attention of visitors towards his art.
He painted Karachi places including City Court, Mohatta Palace, Khalid Dina Hall Library, Shah Rukne Alam Mausoleum, Light House Manora and others. Shams also painted composition of Margalla Hill Fire, Composition of Shakarparain Birds, and After Snowfall Nathia Gali. Shams painted Saudi Arabia places including Quba Mosque, Old Jeddah Houses, Rawsham, Hira Cave Composition.
Talking to Daily Times, Shams said, “I have taken three years while paintings these.” Lots of people came at the inauguration, many of them appreciated his work and showed their keen interest.”
He further said that he was feeling very glad for this exhibition as he exhibited in Karachi after so many years. Response was amazing, he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that exhibition will continue till May 16.
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