Sadequain's ruba’iyat: 'He broke traditional silence over ugliness'

The gallery juxtaposes Sadequain's poetry with his paintings

11 Oct, 2015

Known as an artist of the masses, Syed Sadequain Naqvi was honoured at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the IBA City Campus.

At the opening of the gallery at IBA's Aman Tower earlier this week, notable intellectuals including Fakir S. Aijazuddin, Niilofur Farrukh and Nomanul Haq had a discussion on 'Sadequain in Koochaiye Khayyam' - and shared their views about the artist’s ruba’iyat (quatrains). which were displayed at the gallery.

Sadequain's portrait as painted by his grandnephew. — Photo by Yumna Rafi

Art critic Niilofur Farrukh spoke at length about Sadequain’s work and also touched upon his poetry that was in line with his paintings.

She also posed a question whether his strokes could be construed as misogynistic or whether they were in conflict with the thoughts of a sacred lover who wanted to appease a bruised ego.

She also put forward an interesting point that Sadequain shed light upon the need for the female gender to express her sexuality, an aspect locked away in our conservative society.

Speaking about how he addressed the world he lived in, she mentioned that Sadequain said: “I am those who talk of the gutter.”

“He broke the traditional silence over ugliness. He wasn’t after the world, pursued reality and questioned debauchery,” she said.

He didn’t consider himself to be a drawing room artist and used grotesque to portray the evil lurking everywhere. For him, art consumed him, trained him intellectually, physically and emotionally.

Given that it’s far easier to label such individuals as iconoclasts than to delve deeper in their thoughts, many were also critical of his beliefs. But he wasn’t critical of religion as much as he was of the gatekeepers of faith.

The artist who was quite fond of Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib was revisited by Dr Nomanul Haq who also drew parallels with Persian poet Omar Khayyam who is famous for his ruba’iyat. His shift from painting to poetry and poetry to painting and at times both simultaneously was indeed inventive.

The quatrains vary from the traditional theme of beauty, love to the societal norms which were challenged by him as he raised questions which have a tendency to cause an unease.

A visitor looks intently at one of the paintings. — Photo by Yumna Rafi

The gallery ends on October 11 at 8pm.

Comments

S. Haider Oct 11, 2015 04:35pm

An interesting report. I did not know about the Rubaiat of Sadequain and this aspect of his personality. Thank you also for the photos. "Gatekeepers of the faith " have only brought grief, sufferings, and plight. Sadequain has kept himself far away from these "Gatekeepers ".

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Bupi Oct 11, 2015 06:56pm

Past always shows way to future be it Bad or Good. It's the way one take it , Truth always remain Trut.

Musleh Uddin Ahmad Oct 11, 2015 07:39pm

So much is ever happening on cultural front in the city of Karachi. Unfortunately, advance information is not made available by the organizers. It is spread only as a news item at the near-close of the event. How sad. Only if advance information is published, many more people attend. Such events would bring about a positive change in society - for better understanding and inter action. Daily DAWN can do it - keeping public well informed . Please help US participate.

Muhammad Irfan Oct 11, 2015 09:05pm

Sadequain: an artist par-excellence...!!

Muhammad Irfan Oct 11, 2015 09:12pm

Sadequain: a poet & an artist par-excellence...!!

Arshad Oct 12, 2015 03:47am

I was lucky and fortunate enough, along with my best friend, Iqbal Haider, to meet the great Sadequin many times during the early 70s. And, this was the time his Rubaiyat collection just came into the market. We used to visit his house in Nazimabad, Karachi , the "Sadequain Manzil " ( I am sure this was the name of his home) We used to wait at a Chines restaurant, Sing Tow, which happened to be located just across the street from his home. As soon as we would see his car pulled in, we went to his house and immediately we are in the house and a few minutes later he was reading for us from his collections or discussing his other work. He was generous enough to give us both, a signed copies of the book. But, while moving to various places in the USA and Canada both copies are either lost or stolen. I am so sorry and sad about this loss. He was a great artist and a very humble human being. We met Five or Six times at his home( before moving to Canada) and he invited us for one very important event, his art exhibition at Karachi Arts Council. And at one of his very important family event, his nephew's Waleema, we just crashed the party. We assumed that he forgot to give the invitation card. At the reception, we met Who is Who of the art World in Pakistan. All the big name writers and poets were there. What a night. We were very young at that time, but he gave us utmost respect and his most valuable time. We all miss him. His work is an asset to Pakistan.

P.R.Koduri Oct 14, 2015 05:33am

Sadequain'ss portrait shown here is by itself amazing with its treatment of light and dark, the pensive mood almost in introspection and the airy lightness of it all going with the mood. Are there other works by this artist?

mansoor mubeen Oct 14, 2015 01:02pm

this is so sad, that our new generation does not even know about these assets, what to talk about appreciation by them. besides i will endorse another opinion, that the advance information of such cultural events is not shared. it is a sort of miser attitude. which we should refrain from.