Art lovers and art practitioners in Pakistan had always lamented the fact that while the country had been endowed with a large number of artists in every genre of fine art, nothing was being done to archive and record their works. They can now relax in the knowledge that steps in the right direction are being taken by the Foundation for Museum of Modern Art (Fomma), a non-profit organisation run by a trust.

Setting up a museum of modern art and an art library was first mooted in the 1960s but it became a reality at the turn of the century, shortly after Jalaluddin Ahmed, now nudging 90, moved from London to Karachi. He and his wife Azra Jalal, another art aficionado, used to bring out the prestigious journal Art and the Islamic World in London.

Back in Karachi Jalal Sahib, as he is called by one and all, propagated the idea of setting up Fomma. His enthusiasm proved infectious and it didn’t take much time for some influential people to join hands with him and set up the trust. Jalal Sahib was unanimously appointed honorary CEO of the governing body.

The Foundation for Museum of Modern Art takes small but steady steps towards building a museum of contemporary art in Karachi

The objective of Fomma has been “to promote the study and intelligent appreciation of art and architecture in the country and to set up a museum of modern and contemporary art as also a well-equipped art library”.

The famous artist, gallerist and archivist Syed Ali Imam, who had painstakingly collected thousands of press clippings on Pakistani artists and the art scene in the country from 1971 to 2000, took the sensible decision of donating his treasure trove to Fomma in the twilight years of his life. In a building on the premises of the old race course, which was given to the Fomma free of charge, the clippings are being digitised and preserved for posterity. Earlier, the 36 issues of Art and the Islamic World were digitised and archived. Sabed in PDF, all these archives will be available online not just to researchers but also to curious art lovers.

One of the notable successes of Fomma has been in publishing monographs on a number of Pakistani artists, such as Ali Imam, Zubeida Agha, Laila Shahzada, A.R. Nagori, Rabia Zuberi and Lubna Agha. In addition to that, articles of well-known art writers, Salwat Ali and Marjorie Husain, have also been published in book form by the organisation. All these publications are also of immense value to students in art schools all over the country. These books sold well and paid for their printing and production costs, if not the editorial and marketing expenses.

In 2013, as Jalal Sahib was nearing his 90s he began to look for a successor and a motivated successor he found in Fawzia Naqvi, who took over as honorary CEO of Fomma. Jalal Sahib continues to be a father figure and retains his membership of the managing committee.

The tradition of holding art exhibitions and lectures on art is going from strength to strength. Added to this are art classes which are held from time to time. The venue of all these activities is the lovely 100-plus-year-old structure in a beautifully landscaped area of Zamzama Park in Defence Housing Authority, Karachi. Soon after it was handed over to Fomma by DHA, it was infested with termites. So, the original owners got the structure fumigated and treated scientifically.

The building is a prize possession but what is no less exciting is the collection of 106 calligraphic paintings by the eminent London-based artist, Jamil Naqsh. They could have fetched the reclusive artist millions of pounds but by donating the invaluable works of art, he has brought them ‘within the reach’ of art lovers in the country he is in love with, even if he has, if one may say so, jilted it.

Fawzia Naqvi says that space for a permanent art gallery has been donated by an art lover, who prefers to remain anonymous. Once the premises are done up, the calligraphic paintings will be put up on display. Many artists are bound to follow Naqsh’s example. Also some art collectors would part with their precious collections. This should be a solid step towards the building of a museum of contemporary art.

One hopes that the dream of setting up a library of art books and clippings on Pakistani art and artists will also come true, sooner than later.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, January 31st, 2016