LAHORE, Sept 18: An exhibition of paintings and sculptures by a Peshawar-based artist Abbas Khan opened at Shakir Ali Museum on Wednesday.

The exhibition was a tribute to the late veteran artist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa S S Hyder who had the same standing in KP as Ana Molka Ahmed in Punjab. Before the exhibition, a few speeches were also made.

The exhibition was organised by the Pakistan National Council of Arts.

Speaking on the occasion, Jahanzeb Khan, a student of the late Hyder, regretted that the current law and order situation had left Peshawar a place without cultural activities.

“The cultural centres and Abasin Art Complex present a deserted look. No musical evenings, fine arts or performing arts are taking place in Peshawar,” said Mr Khan, adding that people at key posts were under the fear of kidnap. In recent past, a university chancellor was kidnapped from Peshawar who could not be recovered so far, he said. Khan said S S Hyder had a pioneering role in Fine Arts promotion in KP. He said S S Hyder was the first art instructor of the Abasin Art Society and remained the heart and soul of all art activities there until his death in 1979.

Giving a brief life sketch of late Hyder, Khan said Shehzada Sultan Hyder was born in Ludhiana in 1922. After completing his formal education at the Aligarh Muslim High School he joined the J J School of Art Bombay. He said Hyder was a superb exponent of the New Bengal water colour wash techniques as well as an acclaimed artist in the genres of portraiture and landscape using oil on canvas.

Artist Abbas Khan paid rich tributes to his mentor and teacher S S Hyder. He said through his artworks he had tried to highlight the kind of work Hyder used to do.

Speaking on the occasion, Shakir Ali Museum Director Amana Pataudi said the museum felt overjoyed by holding a tribute exhibition for an artist of great calibre, S S Hyder. Some of Hyder’s family members also shared their views on the occasion.

There were some 50 or so landscapes on display in the exhibition along with over 50 sculptures. A large number of people visited the exhibition. Prominent on the occasion were veteran artist Saeed Akhtar, Prof Jamila Zaidi, travelogue writer Mustansar Hussain Tarar, former executive director of Punjab Council of Arts Ghulam Mustafa and senior artist Mehmoodul Hasan Rumi.

The exhibition will continue for a week.