jamil naqsh - Albemarle Gallery

JAMIL NAQSH
HO M A G E T O PI C ASSO
LONDON
JAMIL NAQSH
HO M A G E TO PI C ASSO
LONDON
The Albemarle Gallery is very proud to present the final stage of
a trilogy of exhibitions dedicated to Jamil Naqsh’s passion and
admiration of one of the greatest artists of the 20th Century.
The majority of the works in this inspired and visionary collection
have never previously been exhibited, and were specifically reserved
for Homage to Picasso London.
The Albemarle Gallery is privileged to facilitate this exhibition and
reaffirms our total commitment to one of the most gifted, respected
and revered artists living today from the Indian Subcontinent.
Tony Pontone
Managing Director
JAMIL NAQSH & PICASSO
By Edward Lucie-Smith
We are accustomed to seeing works of European art that have been heavily influenced by art emanating from non-European
cultures. This tendency began in fact long before Modernism, though it has been regularly associated with Modernist initiatives.
As European traders made new contacts throughout the globe, they borrowed, though often only in a rather sporadic way,
from the art of the regions they contacted. A striking example of this, in the 18th century, was the fashion for what was called
chinoiserie, which became a component of the Rococo style in decoration and architecture. A famous example is Frederick the
Great’s Chinese Teahouse, in the grounds of his palace at Potsdam, with its almost life-size Chinese figures.
Later, in the second half of the 19th century, Japanese art became a kind of cult in progressive artistic circles in Europe, thanks
very largely to the sudden availability of Japanese woodcuts, after the Japanese ports were forced open by Commodore Perry’s
two naval expeditions to Japan (1852-4). The radical inventiveness of Japanese figurative and landscape compositions had
profound impact on aspects of Impressionist art, and, after this, on the work of Toulouse-Lautrec. This impulse was followed
in due course by the borrowings from tribal African art made by the Cubists, chief among them Picasso. As is well known, the
heads of the figures in his masterpiece Les Demoiselles d’Avignon are adapted from Dogon ceremonial masks.
In general these borrowings were until very recently regarded by European art historians as examples of the innate superiority
of European culture – indications of its flexibility, taste for innovation and ability to absorb any new aesthetic phenomena that it
encountered. Reciprocal impulses in art – for example the Company School watercolours made by Indian artists for European
officials and merchants resident in their country, or the Canton School paintings and drawings produced as souvenirs for
Europeans who made the long voyage to China – were dismissed as being obviously inferior to any equivalent European
product.
Only very rarely did a European artist succeed in integrating himself fully with a non-European milieu. Almost the only example I
can immediately think of is the Italian Jesuit Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), who became a celebrated Chinese style painter,
spending most of his life in Beijing. His work was much appreciated by the connoisseur emperor Qian Long.
How then are we to look at this new series of paintings by perhaps the most internationally celebrated of modern Pakistani
artists, who for a number of years now has chosen to live and work in London? They are a dialogue with Picasso rather than a
direct homage to Picasso, and it is interesting to think how they came about.
What one has to consider here is both the generation that Naqsh belongs to, and his intellectual background. He was born in
Kairana, Utter Pradesh, a city that has a deep-rooted tradition of Indian classical music. He belonged to a Muslim family and,
like so many Indian Muslims at the time of Partition, he was forced to emigrate to what became Pakistan. It was in Pakistan that
he received his basic artistic education, combining a schooling in Western artistic methods with one in techniques that would
have been familiar at the Mughal court, before the arrival of the British.
The new generation of artists in Pakistan, to which he then belonged, was, following World War II, thrust into a new aesthetic
world by the colour illustrated art magazines and books that were then becoming widely available internationally. Essentially
this meant that the achievements of the European and American Modern Movements hit them all at once, rather than arriving
in historical sequence. Picasso was not a remote, venerated elder. He was someone with whom they could imagine having a
conversation – a conversation on equal terms.
This is essentially what we see happening in the paintings shown here, though they have of course been made much later in
Jamil Naqsh’s career. The bull or man-bull figure that was so intimately part of Picasso’s mythological world is present, but so
too are images of women wearing Islamic headscarves, or even the burqa. There is a deliberate confrontation, not only of the
quintessentially male with the quintessentially female, but also of two different cultural universes. In these paintings Jamil Naqsh
is staking a claim to be seen, not as an artist confined to one culture, but as someone who has the right – in fact the duty – to
address, using a universal visual language, an equally universal audience
Edward Lucie-Smith
Art Historian, Author and Critic
1 Reclining Nude oil on canvas 91 x 183 cm (36 x 72 in)
2 Picasso in History oil on canvas 102 x 76 cm (40 x 30 in)
3 Profile with Pigeon oil on canvas 91 x 71 cm (36 x 28 in)
4 Floral Figure with Pigeon oil on canvas 71 x 71 cm (28 x 28 in)
5 Seated Figure oil on canvas 76 x 76 cm (30 x 30 in)
6 Mosaic Portrait oil on canvas 71 x 71 cm (28 x 28 in)
7 View from the Window oil on canvas 71 x 71 cm (28 x 28 in)
8 Taurean Figure oil on canvas 71 x 71 cm (28 x 28 in)
9 Veiled Figure oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
10 Figure with Platted Hair oil on canvas 76 x 51 cm (30 x 20 in)
11 Taurus oil on canvas 76 x 51 cm (30 x 20 in)
12 Taurean Figure I oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
13 Seated Nude with Pigeon oil on canvas 76 x 76 cm (30 x 30 in)
14 Veiled Figure I oil on canvas 91 x 71 cm (36 x 28 in)
15 Veiled Figure II oil on canvas 91 x 71 cm (36 x 28 in)
16 Taurus I oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
17 Seated Nude oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
18 Taurus II oil on canvas 122 x 91 cm (48 x 36 in)
19 Taurus III oil on canvas 122 x 91 cm (48 x 36 in)
20 How to Fly oil on canvas 76 x 76 cm (30 x 30 in)
21 Portrait with Dove oil on canvas 76 x 76 cm (30 x 30 in)
22 Figure with Platted Hair & Pigeon oil on canvas 76 x 76 cm (30 x 30 in)
23 Figure in Blue oil on canvas 76 x 76 cm (30 x 30 in)
24 Taurus & Veiled Figure oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
25 Taurus IV oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
26 Homage to Picasso oil on canvas 122 x 91 cm (48 x 36 in)
27 Caged oil on canvas 102 x 76 cm (40 x 30 in)
28 Profile with Two Pigeons oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
29 Watchful Figure with Pigeon oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
30 Multifaceted oil on canvas 91 x 122 cm (36 x 48 in)
31 Multifaceted I oil on canvas 76 x 76 cm (30 x 30 in)
32 Taurean Figure II oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
33 Taurean Figure III oil on canvas 61 x 61 cm (24 x 24 in)
34 Standing Nude oil on canvas 69 x 69 cm (27 x 27 in)
35 Standing Nude I oil on canvas 69 x 69 cm (27 x 27 in)
36 Standing Nude II oil on canvas 69 x 69 cm (27 x 27 in)
37 Standing Nude III oil on canvas 69 x 69 cm (27 x 27 in)
38 Figure with Platted Hair I oil on canvas 76 x 51 cm (30 x 20 in)
39 Looking East oil on canvas 122 x 91 cm (48 x 36 in)
Jamil Naqsh & Edward Lucie-Smith
1939
1953
25 December, Born in Kairana Uttar Paradesh, India
Studied Indian miniature painting with the late Ustad Mohammad Sharif, National Collage of Arts, Lahore
Honours and Awards
2009
2003
1989
1982
1980
1968
1962
1961
Awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz - Pakistan
Jamil Naqsh; A Retrospective, An extensive retrospective exhibition at Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi
(to date the only artist to have been thus honoured in his lifetime)
Pride of Performance Award, Pakistan 1989 Pursuit of ‘Excellence Award, The Artist Association of Punjab, Pakistan
Contribution of 20 years as 2 painter, Arts Council of Pakistan
Shakir Ali Award, Ministry of Culture, Government of Pakistan
First prize, national competition by Hamdard National Foundation for poster design to find a cure for
cancer, for display and distribution by W.H.O
Gold Medal, Pakistan Arts Council, Karachi
First prize, Women’s International Club, Karachi
Solo Exhibitions
2011
2010
2009
2008
2005
2003
2001
1999
1998
1997
1996
1971
1967
1965
1963
1962
A Retrospective, Albemarle Gallery, London
Pigeons and a slice of light, Momart art Gallery, Capital Club, Dubai
Pigeons and a slice of light, Momart art Gallery and Jamil Naqsh Museum, Karachi
Homage to Picasso, Momart art Gallery and Jamil Naqsh Museum, Karachi
Homage to Picasso, Nitanjali Art Gallery, at Galerie Romain Rolland, Alliance Francaise de Delhi
Studio Glass Art Gallery, London
Jamil Naqsh: A Retrospective, Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi
Jamil Naqsh for Najmi Sura, private collection of Najmi Sura, Jamil Naqsh Museum and Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Magic of the Line, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Jamil Naqsh Museum, Karachi
Jamil Naqsh Museum, formal inauguration, Karachi
Homage to Marino Marini, Jamil Naqsh Museum and Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Mother and Child, dedicated to Dr. Faridon Setna, a private viewing hosted by Meher and Husain Sheriff,
Trustees ofj Jamil Naqsh Foundation
Private viewing hosted by Amina and Jehangir Tareen, Trustees of Jamil Naqsh Foundation, Lahore
Modern Manuscripts, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Beyond Words, The Art Gallery, lslamabad
Homage to Marino Marini, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Jamil Naqsh Foundation and Museum, established in Karachi
Pakistan Arts Gallery, Karachi
Pakistan Arts Council, Karachi
The Pak-Brazil Friendship Association, Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi
Pakistan Arts Council, Karachi
Pakistan Arts Council, Lahore
Edward Lucie-Smith addressing guests at the Jamil Naqsh reception. Albemarle Gallery 2011
Special Projects
1977 Mural executed in oil on canvas for the Shakir Ali Museum, Lahore
1974 Mural executed in oil on canvas for the Cancer Society of Pakistan, Karachi, for display and distribution by [he
1973 Calligraphy executed in oil on canvas for the Hamdard National Foundation
1960/8 Served as co-editor of Seep Urdu Literary Quarterly and Arts lnternational 1970-73 President, Pakistan Painters Guild
Group Exhibitions
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1995
1992
1972
1970 1964
1963
1953
Rhythms of Illumination, Nitanjali Art Gallery, Grand Hyatt, Dubai
Resplendent Reveries, Nitanjali Art Gallery, Grand Hyatt, Dubai
Uninterrupted Journeys, Nitanjali Art Gallery, ITC Grand Central, Mumbai
Euphonic Palettes - Dubai, Nitanjali Art Gallery, Grand Hyatt, Dubai
Euphonic Palettes, Nitanjali Art Gallery, Galerie Romain Rolland, Alliance Francaise de Delhi,
sponsored by Deutsche Bank
Pakistani Master’s Show, Nitanjali Art Gallery at Park Hotel, New Delhi
Ibteda - The Beginning, Gandhara - Art.com (Pakistan’s virtual exhibition)
Paintings and Sculptures by 45 Artists, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
lndian Art Unbound II, Nitanjali Art Gallery at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai
Miniature Show, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Modern Calligraphic Paintings & Ceramics, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Recent paintings by 23 Painters, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Modern Calligraphic Paintings & Ceramics, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Modern Calligraphic Paintings & Ceramics, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Modern Calligraphic Paintings & Ceramics, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Water Colour by 20 Painters, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Paintings by 15 Painters, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Recent Paintings by 20 Painters, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Drawings, Prints & Etchings, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Modern Calligraphic Paintings & Ceramics, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Modern Calligraphic Paintings & Ceramics, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Water Colour Exhibition, Momart Art Gallery, Karachi
Group Show, Momart An Gallery, Karachi
India Asia Museum, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A
Trivandrun and New Delhi
Painters from Pakistan, Pakistan National Council of Arts in Paris, London, Munich, New York,
Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Ghana and Sudan
Gallerie Christoph Durr, Munich, West Germany
Painters from Pakistan, Ceylon
Painters from Pakistan, Nepal
National Art Competition, Multan
Photography by Guy Lockwood and Changwoo Ryu
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