EXAMINING DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS: FOUR ARTISTS FROM SINDH

Text: Marjorie Husain

Photography: Courtesy

Looking at the work in exhibition of artists such as Hussain Chandio, Jam Depar, Manzoor Solangi and Nusrat Raza Mangi, one was reminded of the fascinating cultural history and traditions of Sindh; its arts and crafts created through the centuries by gifted artistes and artisans. The fifty-seven exhibits recently displayed in Karachi, encompassed the disciplines of sculpture, figurative work, landscape and modern miniature art. Each series carried themes of the individual artists to be examined in detail. Yet there remains still so much to be written about the province of Sindh. There is so much to discover of the Indus Valley Civilization and the inhabitants of the region 5000 years ago. We know they enjoyed wearing decorative ornaments made from coloured stones; lived in well designed homes and streets, and were buried without weapons. One realizes how very culturally advanced these early inhabitants must have been. When the markings on the seals discovered are deciphered, one may learn so much more.

In Pakistan the first official centre of art education began in Sindh in 1970, when A.R.Nagori established the Fine Arts Department of the Sindh University. He was joined by Mussarat Mirza and several talented artists began their art education at the university. In recent times it is Muhammad Ali Bhatti who heads the department following the principle of educating future generations.