LAHORE: A book titled, Portrait in Words, by Mumtaz Hussain was launched at National College of Arts (NCA) on Tuesday along with the screening of his film Art=(Love)2.
Speaking on the occasion, Hussain, who is a graphic designer also, shared with the audience some aspects of his book of short stories. The explanation by the author was presented in a unique way as each short story was depicted through a mime dance performance.
Waleed Iqbal, a friend of Mumtaz Hussain, held Hussain in high esteem as a short story writer and discussed some stories from the book.
Noted artist and former caretaker minister for culture Jamal Shah, a class fellow of Mumtaz Hussian at the NCA, remembered the good old days when he and Hussain used to study at the college. He congratulated Hussian on his book and praised his film-making.
The book contains 14 stories, each dealing with bitter social and political questions. Behind the stories, there is a clash of human differences, tragedies of classes, attachment to individuals and dissatisfaction with the prevailing society.
Amidst the grief and sorrow, the reader finds himself enmeshed in the lives that unfold uniquely and unpredictably. It is not as if the issues he brings to the fore are new, it is the treatment that makes one take notice.
Mumtaz’s stories arise from his own perspective. His narrative shifts between stark, raw realistic as well as embedded mythology. As a witness, his stance seems to reject traditional norms and social codes as he writes from his vantage point as an observer.
The feature film Art=(Love)2 is a tale of love with a spiritual philosophy in the background. It received the merit award at the Lucerne International Film Festival, Switzerland; the best cinematography award at the Jaipur International Film Festival, India; platinum reel award at the Nevada Film Festival, USA; gold award at the Prestige Film Festival, USA. The film was also officially selected at the Delhi International Film Festival and the Vegas Cine Fest, USA.
In 1979, Mumtaz took admission into the prestigious National College of Arts. While at NCA, Mumtaz decorated the palace of Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan, an architectural landmark in Karachi. In 1983, Mumtaz left for London to study European art forms. In 1984 Mumtaz came to New York to pursue graphic design at the School of Visual Arts and film-making. He has also served as an art director for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Simon & Schuster. He is the author of many collections of Urdu short stories. His films include, Soul of Civilization, This is My Pakistan for a Pakistani TV channel: Inside You; Push Button For and Butterfly Screams. His plays, The Barking Crow Legal Alien and Virus Bomb, have been performed in New York. His paintings and films have been shown at numerous museums, universities, art galleries, and international film festivals.
Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2025
