Dawn Images

SIALKOT: A local 3D street artist has sought government support and patronage for promotion of 3D art in the country.

Twenty six-year-old Waqas Ahmad said 3D art was becoming popular around the world by the day and the government should pay attention to it.

Talking to Dawn on Tuesday, Ahmad said 3D art was different and much costly from fine arts. He said the expenses in making a 3D painting ranged between Rs20,000 and Rs25,000, adding there was a dire need for promotion of 3D art in all government and private educational institutions enabling the young generation to be on a par with technologically advanced nations.

Ahmad further said he had been involved with 3D art since 2010 when a UK-based animator, Abdul Rehman, had encouraged him to explore new vistas of this form of art in Pakistan; and that was when he introduced 3D art in Pakistan.

He added that his skills in 3D art were “god-gifted” and claimed to be proud of being the first 3D street artist in the country when he started off five years ago. He said he taught calligraphy, fine arts and 3D art in various private educational institutions in Sialkot to support his family.

Ahmad was of the view that the government should encourage 3D artists at every level and philanthropists and exporters from Sialkot come forward and encourage him for promotion of the art form. He said he was finding it very hard to afford making such expensive 3D art and claimed he had even torched 75 of his fine and 3D art paintings in protest against official apathy.

The artist said he intended to hold an exhibition of his 3D paintings at national as well as international level to promote his country in the world of 3D art.

Originally published in Dawn September 8th, 2016