Daily Times

A painter’s life transcends his soul for he uses his art to inspire others to look into theirs. Such was the life of Jamil Naqsh who breathed his last on Thursday, May 16, in London, where he had been residing for over a decade.

Jamil Naqsh was born in 1939 and belonged to the iconic group of artists that included the legendary Sadequain among others. All of these artists had a different stories to tell through their work. Jamil Naqsh found his calling as a painter and mastered the art with his enthusiasm. He was recognized around the world for his distinctively painted figurative subjects. In his paintings he hid in plain sight symbols evident only to those having an eye for art. Now that he has left for his eternal abode, Naqsh’s art will fill the hearts of those who adored his skill and continue to inspire aspiring artists. He had an innate sense of colour and valued aesthetics in design. This became the most prominent feature of his paintings.

The passing away of Jamil Naqsh has created a vacuum in arts in Pakistan and in the world. He leaves behind a celebrated legacy. He was a pioneer in calligraphy, abstract painting and still-life

Naqsh’s love for arts led him to the Mayo School of Art in Lahore in 1953. He won his first major prize in 1961. A year later, he received the Gold Medal at the Pakistan Arts Council in Karachi. The Ministry of Culture, Government of Pakistan, in 1980, bestowed upon Jamil Naqsh the Shakir Ali Award. The Artists’ Association of Punjab presented him with the Pursuit of Excellence Award in 1989. However, it was the Pride of Performance Award in 1989 by the president of Pakistan that cemented Jamil Naqsh’s artistic legacy. He remained true to his passion and honest to the cause in sharing his opinions through art. When it came to exhibiting his work, Jamil Naqsh was never a shy artist. He showcased his work in over a dozen exhibitions. First of these was the National Art Competition in Multan.

Naqsh had his debut solo exhibition in 1962, at Lahore Arts Council. By then he had painted more than 40 of his pigeon paintings, all drawn from his childhood memories that showed colour in feathers and harmony in flight.

The passing away of Jamil Naqsh has created a vacuum in arts in Pakistan and in the world as he leaves behind a celebrated legacy. He is considered a pioneer in calligraphy, abstract painting and still-life.

It was under the patronage of Jamil Naqsh that the Momart Gallery opened its doors in 1994 in Karachi where artists who had received guidance from Naqsh during their formative years exhibited their work. Naqsh’s strokes on canvas tell his life’s story like none else could. They will be read, remembered and cherished.

The writer is an independent researcher, author and columnist