Shahnawaz Zaidi is without doubt one of the gifted and well-known artists of Pakistan. He was born on 24th Could 1948. His mother and father migrated from India, Muzafarnagar, and Uttar Pradesh to Mandibahaudin close to Gujarat, Pakistan. Zaidi was the fifth of 11 siblings. Until class 5 he was not allowed to go to highschool however studied from a tutor at house, after that he was despatched to a company faculty from the place he did his matriculation. In 1962 his household shifted to Lahore, right here he received admission in pre-medical in Islamia School. In 1964 he joined Punjab College and in 1968 he accomplished his masters in Designing. In September 1969 he participated in a graduating pupil’s exhibition of graphic design at Punjab College and in the identical 12 months he started as a lecturer there.
In 1971, he married one his class mates, who was a painter. After finishing his masters Shahnawaz was appointed to Punjab College the place he taught for 5 years then in 1974, he was appointed as Lecturer in Nairobi, Kenya. After one 12 months he received promoted and have become head of the division. He spent eight years in Kenya however then determined to return again to Pakistan, in 1982. Right here he opened an promoting company and labored there for 2 years. Since 1984 he has been an affiliate professor and later principal of Division of High-quality Arts and remained at this establishment till his retirement Could 2008, he grew to become the principal 3 times, first in March 1990 and remained for 9 years until 1999, then for the second time in the identical 12 months October 1999 until 2002 after which after two years in February 2004 until Could 2008. Now he’s working as an adviser in Comsats Institute, Lahore. He was awarded “Tamgha-e-Imtiaz” in 1998.
Zaidi has been fascinated by portray and drawing since childhood. His eldest sister Arjumand Shaheen was additionally fascinated by artwork and she or he was a tremendous arts pupil at Lahore School for Girls (College). Zaidi use to repeat her drawings. Throughout his matriculation interval he was punished for making a drawing on this arithmetic copy, which was the primary “recognition” he acquired for his artwork. When he enrolled in graduate faculty he was very a lot fascinated by portray, however at the moment Anna Molka Ahmed was the top of the artwork division at Punjab College and she or he refused to present him admission in portray, as an alternative she supplied him admission in design which he took regardless of of his actual curiosity in portray. There was a contest of designing that Zaidi participated in and gained first prize; quickly after this he grew to become fascinated by designing.
In 1984 when Zaidi joined Punjab College as a senior lecturer he began portray professionally. Earlier than this he makes use of to color sometimes. He was extremely impressed by Anna Molka as she was among the many first painters of Pakistan who painted in each style. Zaidi did work of imaginary personalities, however he was principally fascinated by portraits. His earliest achievements had been the portraits of Ibn-e-Sina and lots of different portraits of historic personalities like Umar Khayam, Al- Razi, Al-Ghazzali and Quaid-e-Azam. All these at the moment are displayed in Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Lahore on the second and third flooring. All these portraits are in Flemish model with darkish background and dramatic mild which emphasize on the character. These components which are away from the face are painted with much less element. Thick over skinny paint is utilized with daring, curved and confined brush strokes.
Just like the Italian Renaissance painters, Zaidi labored in all fields of artwork. His completely different works present completely different moods and influences. When he paints feminine figures he appears to be impressed by the French Impressionists. He additionally painted cultural scenes that may be referred to as group portraits. Zaidi had labored in lots of mediums like water colours, pastels and oil. He additionally did some watercolors and Chinese language brush approach and topics. Zaidi participated in thirty-five nationwide and regional exhibitions in Pakistan and overseas and one solo present in 1996/7, of portraits in Al-Hamra. He did commissioned portraits one in all which is of Dr. Junaid Vice Chancellor of Comsats institute the place Zaidi is now an advisor.
As Zaidi was impressed by Anna Molka Ahmed, his work by some means pertains to her when it comes to theme and approach. Each of those artists favored to color social themes. Anna Molka used palette knife as her medium and Zaidi additionally used this medium not as an entire however he used it in some components of his work and he additionally has achieved some portraits utterly with palette knife. He was extra impressed with Anna Molka as a result of throughout these instances when artwork simply began flourishing she was the one girl who labored in each style, with such a daring medium and in vibrant colours.
Along with his portray Zaidi was very a lot fascinated by poetry. He translated the poems of Abinranath Tagor, which was rewarded a Noble Prize. He wrote just a few books of poetry for instance “Aiana Dar” and “Gita bijli”. Aiana Dar presents quite a lot of themes the place colours of nature, reality of human relations and actuality of the trendy world appeared mingling up in numerous kinds. Thus not solely his work however his poetry additionally revolves across the social points in our on a regular basis life.
In accordance with Zaidi “He’s a painter mainly and artwork educating is his career. Music and poetry are his affections.”
