PROFESSOR Kamil Khan Mumtaz is one of Pakistan’s most celebrated and revered architects. Those of us who have had the privilege of listening to him speak on the importance or art and culture in society must’ve realised that he is one of those rare individuals whose eloquence as an artist permeates his personal, creative and professional life.

It is but natural that when someone such as Prof Mumtaz puts on display his architectural drawings done in pen and pencil, you find it irresistible not to have a look at them. They’re on view at the Koel Art Gallery in an exhibition titled Likhai. Obviously, the pieces in the show are to do with the work that the artist has done. Is that it, though? No. There’s more to it than just the phrase architectural drawings.

First up, the title Likhai. It’s a word which means to write or writing. The reference here is to the language of text and not the language of lines, dots and circles. The reason for it is that essentially they are not different from each other. Both strive to communicate with human beings, directly or in a roundabout way; both need a fair degree of articulateness; both require the aesthetic component in order to make the process of communication beauteous and charming. And for the distinguished architect, it appears, the spiritual is the aesthetic.

Prof Mumtaz, in his statement says, “In my own journey as an architect, from modernity to tradition, I have been able to explore the possibilities of experiencing structure, form, light and space, using familiar materials, patterns and surface decoration, as the grounds for contemplation, and to become aware of a reality beyond the material, and beyond time and space. I have learned to work within the framework of a discipline of symmetries, and rhythms that reflect both the cosmic order and perfect balance underlying the apparent chaos of the universe.”

The emphasis on a ‘reality beyond the material and beyond time and space’ with a focus on ‘balance’ in the cosmic order is what makes the artist and his work extremely engaging. If it provokes the viewer to think about the metaphysical aspect of life with a bit more concentration, it shouldn’t surprise anyone.

The show concludes on May 10.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2021