KARACHI, Jan 20: Speakers shed light on the life and work of artist A.R. Nagori at a condolence reference organised by the Foundation for the Museum of Modern Art (Fomma) at Unicorn Art Gallery on Thursday.

Mr Nagori passed away on Jan 14.

Artist Khuda Bux Abro set the tone for the evening by reading out an incisive and evocative paper on Nagori. He began his piece by telling the audience how the late artist admired and valued enlightened (roshan khayal) values at a time when people weren't put in different socioeconomic and religious brackets. He said Mr Nagori's fight was against the darkness caused by bigotry and narrow-mindedness that existed in society. The artist would express his anger and register his protest by painting pictures. He always worked for the underprivileged and held the beacon of truth aloft. Mr Nagori was an artist rooted to his soil and therefore his metaphors were simple.

Mr Abro in a poignant way juxtaposed the situation where Mr Nagori's funeral procession was taken to a well-known mosque and his own ideas about fundamentalism. Talking about the changing times where the maulvi had become more professional, he said now places like the Arts Council and the Karachi Press Club didn't have the courage to hold condolence meetings for certain people. He finished his paper on an optimistic note that the fight between the forces of darkness and those who favoured enlightenment would carry on.

Dr Akbar Naqvi's extempore speech was peppered with poetic references. He said Mr Nagori was a mercurial man and had a critical mind. His first meeting with the artist ended on a disagreement. He narrated the time when during Gen Zia's rule the artist had made certain paintings (caricatures of the general) and Ali Imam called him (Dr Naqvi) and wondered whether to put the paintings on display.

He said Ali Imam should and the exhibition went on. He claimed that Mr Nagori didn't live up to his potential, because after that particular period he drew some romantic Sindhi work, and if he had kept the fire in him burning, he could have achieved more.

Critic Niilofer Farrukh said Mr Nagori was not only an artist of high merit but was also an intellectual and a mentor to a lot of students. He was an uncompromising individual and lived his life on his own terms. He unmasked predatory and exploitative forces. She touched upon his services in setting up an arts department at Sindh University. He could've gone abroad but decided to remain at Sindh University to serve the world of art.

Rabia Zuberi said Mr Nagori's work had depth and was connected to society. She lamented that today forces like the Taliban were condemning art.

The late artist's son and daughter also addressed the audience. The speeches were preceded by an interview of A.R. Nagori for an art show Framed on DawnTV.

The event was conducted by Jalaluddin Ahmed and Farhad Fatakia.