PESHAWAR: Mohammad Ahsanzeb, a young artist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been invited to the first international festival of water colour paintings in China to represent Pakistan.

His synopsis of doctorate thesis has also been accepted by a jury of artists of Shanghai University from a list of noted artists hailing from around the world.

Association of Qingdao Artists (AQA) has arranged the first water colour festival in Qingdao city of Shandong eastern province of China to attract attention of the world towards creative group art pieces.

“My art piece titled ‘beautiful mess’ painted in water colour on sheet has found a place in the event where art works of around 185 artists from 62 countries will be put on display,” Mr Ahsanzeb told this scribe.

Doctorate thesis of Ahsanzeb also accepted by Shanghai University

He said that the jury of Shanghai University also accepted synopsis of his doctoral thesis titled “Production of plural spatiality in the streets of Peshawar and Lahore: an analysis of the role of public and private actors in the co-creation of space.”

Mr Ahsanzeb said that the water colour festival included series of events namely publishing, exhibition and painting in which all the participants would be engaged during their stay there from August 21 to September.

“I am the first ever water colourist to represent Pakistan in such a large scale festival in China,” he claimed.

He said that his art piece reflected climate change, therefore, earned a due place in the festival as he had recently completed a project showcasing hazardous impact of climate change on environment.

“More than 500 art pieces were sent to the festival by experienced artists from around the world. Only 185 art pieces were picked up for the upcoming event. Inclusion of my art work in the festival is a great pride for me and my country at large,” he said.

Mr Ahsanzeb is a graduate of College of Arts, University of Punjab, in graphic design, having an outstanding academic excellence.

Being recipient of several awards, he has more than 13-year experience in contemporary art and design. He has participated in several national and provincial events.

“I have served as specialist in visual art and craft at the directorate of culture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. I have also worked with Unseco, PASDEC, UNINO, THAAP and GIZ,” he said. Presently he has been serving as teacher at School of Art and Design and Architecture, Haripur University.

Mr Ahsanzeb said that the selection of his art piece for the world festival and acceptance of his topic for doctorate thesis by the jury of Shanghai University would serve as inspiration for the young artists, who were interested in projects on climate change and several other themes being emerged at global level.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2023