Jamil Naqsh | |
---|---|
Born | December, 25th, 1939 |
Died | May, 16th, 2019 |
Nationality | Pakistani, British |
Education | Ustad Haji Sharif |
Known for | Painting |
Notable work | Reclining Nude, Woman with Pigeon |
Awards | Pride of Performance, Sitara-i-Imtiaz |
Website | http://www.jamil-naqsh.com/ |
Jamil Naqsh ( Urdu: جمِیل نقش), (25 December 1939 – 16 May 2019) was a British Pakistani painter who lived a reclusive life in London from 2012 until his death. [1] He briefly studied at National College of Arts but left before obtaining a degree. His work has been described as idealized and sensual. [2] [3] [4]
Jamil Naqsh was born in Kairana, India in 1939, and later moved to Karachi, Pakistan during the partition
. [1] In his early teens, he had the experience of travelling alone through Chittagong, Calcutta and Colombo. He learned a lot about life during that harsh journey. He also gained a great respect for the art traditions of the past while travelling. This journey's impressions later influenced his thinking and work. [3]
Naqsh trained as a miniaturist under former National College of Arts professor Ustaad Haji Sharif in Lahore beginning in 1953. [3] [2] He left the National College of Arts without completing his degree as he felt it was the experience not the qualification that was important. [3] He left Pakistan in 2012 and settled in London, United Kingdom. [5] [6]
On 7 May 2019, due to pneumonia, Naqsh was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in London, [7] where he died nine days later at the age of 79. [2]
Naqsh mostly painted pigeons. He also painted women, often integrating them with the elements of horses, pigeons or children. He grew up seeing pigeons flutter around in his courtyard; thus, much of his work included drawings of pigeons. [1] He set up his Karachi studio in a rooftop garden where pigeons were allowed to move around freely and were welcomed as visitors. [3]
Naqsh was influenced by the works of Indian, Pakistani and European masters, including Pablo Picasso and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. [8] In June 2012, an untitled piece by Naqsh was sold for about PKR 6.3 million at Bonhams. [9]
Some of his exhibits are listed below:
Naqsh also painted Islamic calligraphy in his modern style with unique and bold brush strokes. His calligraphic style maintained the basic elements of art, with special emphasis on 'line'. [3] Since 1996, the Jamil Naqsh Foundation and Museum have been run by his family members in Karachi, Pakistan. [1] [2] In December 2017, the Jamil Naqsh Museum was inaugurated by Aitzaz Ahsan in Defence Housing Authority, Karachi. [12] [13]