
Unicorn Gallery is
pleased to present on 20th November 2014 an exhibition of modern miniature paintings by today’s leading miniature artists.
MAJOR MINIATURISTS features new miniature art by:
Amjad Ali Talpur, Asif Ahmed, Attiya Shaukat, Ayesha Durrani, Imran
Channa, Imran Mudassar, Irfan Hasan, Khadim Ali, Khalid Saeed Butt,
Mudassar Manzoor, Raza Ur Rehman, Safdar Ali Qureshi, Saira Wasim, Ustad
Bashir Ahmed, and Waseem Ahmed.
Exhibition opening time: 5 pm to 8 pm. Display shall last from 20th to 30th November 2014

Amjad Ali Talpur trained in miniature from the
National College of Arts, Lahore. He teaches and practices at Jamshoro
Sindh and his grid miniatures explore themes of country, culture,
history, mughal and Islamic identity. The artist exhibited
internationally.
Asif Ahmed graduated from National College of Art in
2004 with a BFA 1st Division, Distinction in Miniature Painting. The
artist has participated in several group and solo exhibitions in
Pakistan and abroad. His modern miniatures explore traditional art,
political intrigue, power and blending history with the modern. Asif
Ahmed’s miniatures have been auctioned internationally and featured in
several publications.
Attiya Shaukat has a BFA in Fine Arts from National
College of Arts as well as from the Lahore College of Women. Through her
work she explores her personal narrative. Having suffered paralysis,
the artist highlights images of spines, vertebrae and mechanical parts.
Attiya uses the age-old tradition of miniature painting and incorporates
it into modern context.
Ayesha Durrani is a modern miniaturist. She
graduated in 2003 from the National College of Arts with a BFA. Ayesha
has held several international exhibitions including at Aicon Gallery
New York and Gallery 27 Cork Street, London, Dubai, New Delhi etc.
Ayesha Durrani draws out feminist topics through her work exploring
themes of female bondage and arranged marriages in Pakistani culture.
Imran Channa is a contemporary artist who works in
various media including: Painting, drawing, sculpture, digital art and
interactive art. He has been exhibiting nationally and internationally.
He has a BFA and an MFA from the National College of Arts and his work
‘Making of the history’ is based on Mughal culture, heritage and
identity. Imran Channa was Gasworks resident UK.
Imran Mudassar has Bachelors in Fine Arts with a
Distinction from National College of Arts, and was awarded the Award of
Excellence by Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore. He has shown in Art Hong Kong
(2010), “Assemble Reassemble”, Devi Art Foundation, New Delhi (2010).
He has completed a residency at the Visual Art Collective (Khoj
International Artists Residency), Banglore, and has had two solo
exhibitions in Pakistan as well as participating in various group shows.
Irfan Hasan graduated from National College of Arts
in 2006 and has been a part of several major exhibitions
internationally. The artist is well known for his large scale
socio-political miniatures. Irfan Hasan is the recipient of Commonwealth
Connection International Artist Residency 2010.
Khadim Ali is a miniaturist par-excellence. Based in
Sydney, Australia, Khadim belongs to the Hazara tribe and his
miniatures explore themes of culture. Khadim uses the technique of neem
rang or half-colour and is best known for his Rustam series narratives
which depicts the battle between good and evil, and the Persian epic
poem, Shahnameh (Book of kings). Khadim is an internationally renowned
artist and has participated in the Venice Biennale, shown at Documenta
13, Cross Art Projects, Sydney, Lismore Regional Gallery, Australia.
Khalid Saeed Butt has a BFA in Graphic Design from
Punjab University; his miniatures are executed on canvas with mixed
media and some with gouache on wasli. His watercolour wash technique
brings him closer to Chughtai and his longish figures echo Western
academic drawing. His work is largely inspired by Urdu poetry in context
and is traditional in nature. The artist enjoys immense popularity in
his country.
Mudassar Manzoor has a Professional Diploma in
Computer Graphics from Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan (2001) and
Bachelor of Fine Arts First Division with Distinction, National College
of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan (2005). Mudassar Manzoor is a well-known
artist from Pakistan, having shown at prominent exhibitions
internationally, and has mastered Eastern Miniature painting. He paints
details using animal hair (as delicate paint brush), meticulously
applying gouache paint and gold pigment on to wasli paper. The artist
has shown at Hong Kong Art Center and the 4th Biennial of Contemporary
Paintings of Muslim World in Iran.
Raza Ur Rehman has worked as a designer (comic and
digital artist) and as an illustrator with various local and
multinational companies. He has a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts
(Illustration) from College of Art & Design University of the Punjab
Lahore in 2008. The artist works as a lecturer and has won a Merit
Award from the Artist Association of the Punjab. Raza has held
successful showing at the Unicorn Gallery Karachi.
“Raza ur Rehman is an artist of great distinction. His work in
exhibition combined watercolour painting and mechanical objects
suggesting the techno-presence of a future where man will be no longer
the superior intelligence. The artist’s unique and impressive art made a
strong impression on visitors to the gallery.” – Marjorie Husain,
(Article: Miniature art, exploring new forms of expression)
Safdar Ali Qureshi graduated from the National College
of Arts in 2005. Born in Larkana, Sindh, he is currently a visiting
faculty member teaching miniature painting at the Centre of Excellence
in Arts Design, MUET, Jamshoro. Safdar Ali Qureshi’s work involves a
revival of traditional skills with the experimentation of contemporary
viewpoints and technology.
Saira Wasim is a leading modern miniaturist. The
artist graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the National
College of Arts, Lahore. Her miniatures explore politics and culture and
her work has been exhibited in a number of international museums
including the Whitney Museum of American Art, Brooklyn Museum of Art and
Asian Art Museum. Saira Wasim’s paintings have been auctioned at major
international auction houses and her work has been published by VOGUE
India.
Ustad Bashir Ahmed Bashir Ahmed was born in 1953 and
was the department head of miniature department at the National College
of Arts in Lahore. A distinguished artist Professor Bashir Ahmed has
been a traditional miniature artist working in the original Persian and
Mughal miniature techniques and training generations of modern
miniaturists.
Waseem Ahmed Waseem Ahmed is a modern miniaturist
based in Gerrmany. Born in Hyderabad, Pakistan (1976) Waseem graduated
from National College of Arts in 2000 with “Honors” in the field of
Miniature Painting. He mixes Mughal tradition, fusing it with modern
elements and through his work he comments on contemporary
socio-political events. Waseem has participated in several solo and
group shows all over the world. His work has also been auctioned in
prestigious auction houses internationally.
MAJOR MINIATURISTS Exhibition 20 to 30 November 2014
11 am – 8 pm at Unicorn Gallery. Daily timings 11 am to 8 pm. Mon to Sat.
To view the paintings, ecatalogue or press release please visit www.unicorngalleryblog.com