Meet Nadir Ali Jamali

As a visual artist my prime expression of interest has been wood as a medium, but on quest of evaluating my vision I have sought different mediums of expression including mixed media, miniature painting. I have produced solo exhibition works in Islamabad, Lahore, Larkana & Karachi, along with late solo show of some wood sculptures at Sindh Museum Art Gallery, Hyderabad.

Recently, I had been commissioned to create the sculpture of “Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai” a renowned and famous poet of Sindh, by the government of Sindh. It is an 18 feet high round sculpture and is the biggest human figure in seated form ever made in Pakistan.

Apart from my teaching endeavours I have participated in multiple projects at International level including Japan Expo 2005, selected as expert sculptor. I have also been selected as an artist for representing Sindh for CPEC Cultural Caravan between Pakistan and China, it consisted of cross-cultural interaction, for which we went to China and travelled across Pakistan to interact with people of both sides and document it.

Moreover, I am conscious of heritage and also responsive to contemporary dialogue. Therefore retrospectively, despite the rich sculptural tradition since Maher Garh, I think the Indus Valley and Gandhara, Sculptors for some inexplicable reasons have existed more like endangered species in our art scene, reasons for this special status could be many but citing the over simplistic reason of “religious intolerance” have been the easiest and most favourite thesis of our self-styled reporters – Art historians. In my opinion our confused understanding of Art based on a wavering National identity and total disconnect with the indigenous cultural narrative are the core factors which have prevented us from establishing a relationship with life that is intimate, critical and creative.

The result is our rootless wondering in every walk of life over last 6 decades, which is why we have not been able to develop the essential sense of ownership with our land and life. My work should be seen as an expression of defiance against all these factors and perceived as a tribute to the wonderful past because the vocabulary, technique and subject matter exudes the struggle of a genuinely rooted and gifted Artist. Similarly, my handling of form can be marked by directness that keeps my facility of expression very organic in nature because each and every form be fashions, reflects, my utmost respect for the tradition and, the relationship I strive to establish with material.

Hence being from Sindh at the same time, I am mindful of the burden of justifying sculpture as an absolutely valid art form alongside with counterparts of the same cultural heritage from Mehergarh to contemporary Pakistan. Therefore, I would like to be part of Humanics Sanctuary and Sculpture Park Ottawa to add something worthwhile, which may belong with my culture and region to attract people from different realm.

Assistant Professor Nadir Ali Jamali Institute of Art & Design University of Sindh Jamshoro

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