Daily Times

Tell us about your foray into the field of fashion, photography, RJing and designing. How did it all begin for you?

I was nine when my father presented me with a small lomo camera. Initially, I excitedly photographed friends and family, but soon moved on to photograph Karachi’s streets. I would walk to my father’s shop every day after school taking new routes through Saddar taking photographs of my surroundings. Not much later, I had this work printed in the Dawn newspaper, which encouraged me to photograph even more. Since then, I have never looked back, taking my camera everywhere. Fashion for me began at the age of 16. I became photo editor of the Teenager magazine. A few years later, in the 1990s, when Pakistani fashion industry blossomed, I rode that wave; photographing and being the photo editor of the groundbreaking magazine Xtra. I have since cut down my fashion work and am now focused on my photo art. Music has always been a passion of mine and when I was offered a show in the newly created City FM89, I jumped at the opportunity and used those two hours as music therapy. As for jewellery designing, that is something that’s in my blood. I come from a family of jewellers that can date their origin back some 300 years. Now I run my father’s shop, Hassan Ali Muhammad Javeri Jewellers, designing exclusive jewellery for discerning clients.

You do a lot of freelance work and have also been the photo editor of a magazine. How was the experience? Of late, have you considered being on board with a publication in any capacity?

In the 1980s, I was photo editor of Teenager magazine and in the ‘90s of Xtra magazine. The goal in both was to push the edge of fashion photography and create art. I don’t feel that is the goal of any magazine now. Priorities have changed and now finance dictates the outcome of a shoot. That wasn’t the case when fashion began in this country. The aim was always to excel and push the envelope. When and if a magazine like Xtra comes along again I’ll be there for them.

‘Priorities have changed and now finance dictates the outcome of a shoot. That wasn’t the case when fashion began in this country. The aim was always to excel and push the envelope’

Tell us about your label ‘Tapulicious’. How fulfilling is it and what is your favourite accessory designed by you?

The Tapulicious outfits came about as another way of pushing the limits of photography. With new printing technology available, photographs are now not limited to being displayed on magazines and walls. There are now unlimited venues available. With that in mind, I created Tapulicious. It was a collaboration between myself and my designer friends. I would give them the printed cloth, a brief and let them be as creative as they liked. My guide to them was that these clothes were not for sale, so go crazy. Tapulicious was so successful that I was invited to Paris to show my Wardha Saleem collaborative collection there.

You have also designed for legendary designer Maheen Khan’s label ‘Gulabo’. Tell us about your camaraderie with her. Will you design for other designers in future?

My friendship with Maheen Khan goes way back to the early days of fashion. She has always gone out of her way for me. My collaboration with Gulabo produced fun patriotic t-shirts and Insha Allah we will make more.

Tell us about your love for music. Who are your favourite artists? Why did you call your radio show ‘The Dark Room’?

I have always loved music, although I cannot play a single instrument, yet I have a keen ear for melody. As a child, I would collect albums and make mixed tapes for all my friends. When fashion shows came about, I was the person that used to select music for the shows. For Maheen Khan’s first show, which was divided into decades, I remember making an amazing selection of music from the ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s etc. To this day, people remember that show for the clothes and the music. Calling my show ‘The Darkroom’ is obvious, but I guess a new generation would have to Google that. I’m a photographer and that used to be a place to develop images before digital cameras and it’s also the way I hear my music. I play eclectic music that matches my mood. Luckily, it also works for my listeners. I don’t really have a favourite artist. I instead like a large array of music and genres. Jazz, however is what I listen to when I’m alone.

You have also been on the jury of the prestigious Lux Style Awards. What according to you has been your biggest achievement so far?

To be named as one of Nikon’s top 32 photographers and flown to Japan to receive an award. It feels better when your contemporaries award you. But honestly, I consider my photographs and books as my real achievements. My archive is filled with images of legendary icons of Pakistan that I have collected over the years. To have photographed the likes of Madam Noor Jahan and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is my real achievement.

Your real name is Mustafa. How did the name Tapu come about and why did you stick to it as a professional?

Tapu is my nickname, given to me by my father because I was a very hyper child. It is the name I am known by, hence the obvious choice for my career.

Based in Karachi, what is your vision for Pakistan and what does it mean to be Pakistani for you?

Karachi is a chaotic city
full of contradictions and colour and thus the best place for a photographer to create images. The city has a wealth of history and architecture that most people ignore, yet if you look carefully, you will be amazed by its hidden gems. It is a photographer’s job to look at everything with a discerning eye and to archive what he sees. Being an integral part of Sindh, not far from Karachi are more splendid sites, like Sehwan, Mohenjo Daro, Hyderabad, Thatta, Ranikot, Thar and Bhit Shah, to name just a few, each a unique cultural stronghold and a photographer’s dream. Yet Pakistan for me isn’t just a sum of its cultural sites, it is alive in its people. And where will you find more than the metropolis of Karachi.

At the age of 53, you have worn many hats and felt many feathers in your cap too. What motivates you to excel no matter what?

Loving parents and everything!

We, at Daily Times, consider you one of our national heroes. Who are some of yours?

Pakistan runs on the power of its real heroes; all those people who have selflessly given their time and energies to help Pakistan. People like Abdul Sattar Edhi, Dr Abeeb Rizvi of Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation, Mushtaq Chhapra and Dr Tariq Mahmood of Pakistan Air Force (Jinnah Hospital) and others are my true heroes. I have photographed them closely and seen what amazing people they are. They are the goals I would ask everyone to strive for.

                                             Achievements

KING OF VERSATILITY

Tapu Javeri is not just a renowned photographer but is also a noteworthy and highly successful radio host and jewellery and accessories’ designer. He also appears at various beauty and fashion contests as judge.

ASSOCIATION WITH PRINT MEDIA

Tapu Javeri has been the photo editor of Xtra magazine and also for Teenager magazine in the past. He has also produced his works in the form of books that include I, Voyeur, Tapulicious, Tapulicious 2, Shades of Green and Dou Rukh and has also contributed to publications such as 8, K’ Architecture, Golden Pakistan and Where Three Dreams Cross – 150 Years of Photography from India, Pakistan & Bangladesh.

RAKING IN THE AWARDS

Javeri has won many awards both in his home country and abroad, that include a Lux Style Award, an Indus Style Award and was also named as one of Nikon’s top 32 photographers.

Published in Daily Times, August 8^th 2018.