Multiple expressions: Painting a grotesquery

The exhibit was inaugurated by Dr Gulzar Haider. Several art critics and gallery curators were present.

The 86-year old artist, popular for his depiction of mythical creatures, told The Express Tribune that six months ago Tapal Tea owner Aftab Tapal had asked him to paint grotesque images for display at his office in Karachi. “I painted a large piece depicting several faces with varying expressions,” Sohail said. The piece was admired by many people who then asked him to paint similar smaller pieces to hang in their homes, he said.

Sohail has painted 31 such pieces over two months. Some show human faces evolving into beastly ones, others show women and men changing faces.

Art critic Quddus Mirza said, “There is always a reference to magic, mythology and history in Sohail’s work. He has a distinctive imagination… This work is quite different from his previous work.”

Sohail has been living in Karachi for over a decade and lived in the UK for 40 years before that. He held his first art show in 1978.

“I was very poor… I attended art classes for the less privileged at night at the St Martin School of Art. I attended those classes for 20 years and practiced hard… I still don’t have a degree,” he said.

He said artists in Pakistan placed too much value in academic achievement. “As long as an artist improves his skill, I don’t see why academic degrees are important,” said Sohail.

He showed his work in Islamabad in January and in Karachi in February earlier this year. Both shows were sold out.

“I have never married. Art is what I live for,” he said.

Sohail said he was fond of painting nudes but had not displayed any in Pakistan.

“Sadequain was beaten up for displaying nude paintings. I refrain from displaying such pieces in art galleries,” he said.

Sohail’s paintings are priced at Rs80,000 to Rs300,000 and will remain on display till April 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2013.