Govt inquiry states Ghotki artist didn’t take ‘serious interest’ in retrieving paintings from Frere Hall

An inquiry report on Ghotki-based artist Seffy (Safdar) Soomro’s ‘lost’ paintings released on Monday evening by the Directorate General Culture Sindh stated that the situation was the result of a “misunderstanding”. Soomro had spotted his artwork in the television serial Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum years after being told by the management of Karachi’s Frere Hall that it had gone ‘missing’.

The inquiry, ordered by Sindh Culture Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, concluded that there had been some “misunderstanding” between Soomro and the exhibition centre after confirming that his paintings had been at Frere Hall all along.

The plot thickens

A two-member committee, led by the director generals of culture and antiquities, was appointed to investigate the matter. Their report, submitted to Shah, stated that the paintings never left Frere Hall and had been moved for various exhibitions over the years.

Initially, Soomro claimed to have been lied to and accused the Frere Hall management of misappropriating his work. “I was lied to. I was told my paintings were lost, only for them to be reused for profit.”

According to the report, the committee’s thorough review involved discussions with key figures, including Abbas Raza Rizvi, senior director of culture and sports for KMC, and the Frere Hall administration. It was confirmed that the drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum was shot at Frere Hall, and the paintings seen in the show were the same ones presumed missing.

However, contrary to Soomro’s claims, the report stated that the artist had “not taken a serious interest” in reclaiming his paintings after the exhibition, leading to a misunderstanding between him and the Frere Hall management.

Soomro slams report

In a video shared on his Facebook, Soomro rejected the report, accusing the authorities of conducting a biased investigation. “The Sindh government is doing exactly what I had anticipated because the departments, the DGs, are all working under them. They shouldn’t have been the ones investigating this matter to begin with. It should have been some third party. I do not buy this report at all,” he said.

The artist said the report confirmed what he had been saying all along — that his paintings were at Frere Hall and had been used without his consent. “Thank God, whatever I had said has proven correct. My paintings were, in fact, at Frere Hall. They have admitted that. They have also admitted that they kept using my painting for various exhibitions. This means that they had been receiving money all this time from some drama, exhibition, or event by misappropriating my work.”

Soomro pointed out that his artwork should’ve been packed and stored somewhere after the exhibition he gave it for had ended, even if no one came to collect it. “The exhibition I had given this painting for could’ve lasted a week, 10 days, a month, after that, the painting should’ve been packed and kept in a warehouse. It should not have been left hanging to be used for future exhibitions.”

Soomro suggested that other artists might have been similarly exploited, stating, “Just because I raised my voice — and it was heard everywhere — doesn’t mean I’m the only one this has happened to.” He accused the report of favouring Frere Hall and vowed to continue seeking justice, adding, “I will not settle for this. God is watching.”

A recap

The curious case of Soomro’s paintings being misappropriated came to public attention when he spotted his artwork in episode 17 of the drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, and raised his voice on social media.

His paintings were featured in a scene involving actors Emmad Irfani and Areej Chaudhary. Shocked by this discovery, Soomro took to social media, accusing Frere Hall of renting his work without his consent and lying to him.

Soomro said the pieces were part of his thesis for the University of Sindh’s Fine Arts Department. Following public outcry, Big Bang Entertainment, the production company behind Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, quickly distanced itself from the matter. It clarified that the location and props used in the drama were rented and expressed support for Soomro, advising him to resolve the issue with the venue.