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The most significant art movement to have emerged in Pakistan in recent times is that of the Contemporary Miniature School, a phenomenon which began in the 80s, when the National College of Art established a department of miniature painting to degree level. Several outstanding practitioners earned international success such as Shazia Sikandar, Imran Qureshi, Aisha Khalid and Kadim Ali.

Recently an exhibition was held of a younger artist, Mudassar Manzoor, who graduated from NCA in 2005, and since then has shown his work to critical acclaim in France and India as well as in Pakistan. His work was outstanding at a National Visual Arts Exhibition held at Alhamra in 2005, where a miniature portrait of his mother rendered in the media of graphite, dominated the show.

Entirely committed to his work, Mudassar participated in numerous group displays and everywhere his work has been received with critical acclaim. Gallerist, Amna Tirmizi Naqvi, who runs a gallery in Hong Kong, has mounted several exhibitions of leading modern miniaturist’s work, and when introduced to Mudassar’s work, she was highly appreciative. When she opened the Karachi branch of her gallery Gandhara, situated in Clifton, 18 paintings by Mudassar Manzoor celebrated the occasion. The exhibition which runs till April in Karachi, will then move to the Hong-Kong Gallery accompanied by beautiful hard-cover catalogues of the artist’s work.
 
   
 
   
This time the artist expressed himself by using water colour and gauche with delicate precision, he incorporates glowing areas of gold shapes amid the green of the trees and daring touches of scarlet. His solitary figure continues to meditate in a surreal landscape. Perhaps musing on life and nature, one finds the outline of a form in a womb-like shape, or enclosed by a shell. One finds a silver tusked elephant in the classic Mogul tradition, standing over a kneeling figure. In another artwork the surface is divided into two by a beautifully worked border, the subject with flowing hair and hands also split in two by the device. The artist’s understanding of colour and technique is masterly. One must view the work to absorb and appreciate his skill. With so much demand for Mudassar’s work outside, the opportunities to view his paintings first hand in future may be rare.