April 05, 2008

Mirza Khalid Baig’s journey of self-discovery has been long, eventful, rewarding and colourful. From reading and learning to writing prose and poetry; from experimenting with documentaries to various expressions in art. He painted portraits, notably those of the Quaid-e-Azam (which won him a special award from the National Museum of Pakistan in 1994), Mahatama Gandhi (presented to the Governor of Andhra Pardesh in 1997 in Hyderabad, India), Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan, ruler of UAE, famous artist and great promoter of art in Pakistan, Ali Imam and other famous personalities. His calligraphies are traditional as well as based on early Chinese scrolls.

Baig was born in a liberal, academic family in Hyderabad (Deccan), India in 1937. His environment encouraged learning and pursuit of literature, poetry, art and higher education. There was no compulsion to be a doctor or an engineer or to find a lucrative career. He was free to do whatever his heart desired. His passion for painting took him to London, England, where he obtained a diploma in fine arts.

There have been no contradictions, no compromises and practically no conflicts or struggles in his life. Everything has come easy for Baig — something that is reflected in his art. There is nothing revolutionary, nothing rebellious, nothing shocking in his paintings. Everything is nice, pleasant, happy, colourful and joyous. He has been motivated by the aesthetics in life and art. He has sought beauty, plain and simple, of abstract forms and colours, in his new work exhibited recently at the Shakil Ismail Gallery in Karachi.

In the work displayed, Baig has not come very long way from his last exhibition. He has stuck to graceful forms and bright colours and elusive and abstract images. There is a poetic element, harmonious balance, idealistic and abstract. The theme and thrust of his work is plain and straightforward, a safe ode to harmony and happiness. His colours are all bright and brilliant, off-white, strong red, shining orange, sky blue; all festive. His paintings display strong, confident strokes, fine, linear textures and endless creative forms and shapes, almost kaleidoscopic. He offers a peaceful and pleasant environment.

Baig insists that has not resigned to this safe passage. His future plans are diametrically different to whatever he has done so far in his illustrious career as an artist. He is aware of and constrained by, what he says is happening to people as reflected in their faces and frustrations. He is sensitive to pain and distortion and plans to reflect that in his future work. Till then, we must wait.