PESHAWAR: An artist from Bannu, who gained popularity after displaying his art-pieces at an exhibition in Islamabad, has said that he wants to capture the sights and sounds of the walled city of Peshawar.

Nouman Khan, a water colourist, told this scribe that old Peshawar city offered much for the eyes of a keen artist. He added he embarked on journey to capture old trees being despised as symbol of evil and bad luck.

“Old trees and buildings in and around Peshawar reflect our glorious past and should be preserved. Unfortunately, there are flora and fauna that once thrived because of its usage in domestic cure for different diseases and also its flowers were give out beautiful aroma in addition it played a significant role in keeping our environment green and clean,” he said.

Mr Khan said that out of their superstitious approach, locals began to cut them down and looked upon them as omen of bad fortune and unfavourable for human beings.

Nouman Khan gains popularity after displaying his art pieces at an exhibition in Islamabad

He said that most buildings around the city were being demolished on the pretext of development and uplift.

He regretted that there was no art gallery in the city for displaying the art-pieces, showcasing such sights and sounds of the walled city for the visitors. He added that old trees were being cut down to widen roads and lanes, which proved destructive for environment.

The water colourist said he had done his masters in subjects other than painting but had great penchant since his early age for capturing the countryside, landscapes and cityscapes and later learnt a lot from senior artists in Karachi and Lahore during his stay there. “I use oil and water mediums and for on the spot painting of buildings and landscapes. It is a bit tough,” he said.

He said that he was recipient of several national and local awards and commendation certificates.

He added that he also wanted to expose the beauty of north to the world as it had a great treasure trove of images.

Mr Khan said that he found through research that numerous trees both medicinal and aromatic were disappearing from graveyards, deserts and along streams where those trees grew mostly but were being cut down due to their association with bad omen. “But it is the other way round, because they give long shades and flowers spurting out aroma and colour in the spring season and are also environment-friendly,” he added.

He said that capturing the images of toxic beauty and old buildings around the city would lend a unique twist to his artistic journey.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2023