Bashir Ahmed (miniaturist)

Bashir Ahmed, son of Barkat Ali Malik, was born in 1953. He is a Pakistani painter, also known as Indian miniature painter.

Education

• 2002–04 M.P.A (HRM) Master in Public Administration, Punjab University, Lahore Pakistan
• Master of Fine Arts(M.F.A)Punjab University Lahore Pakistan Painting all media, Printmaking, and Sculpture
• 1974–76 Specialization in Miniature Painting with court Painter, Family Member, Sheikh Shuja-Ulla and Hajji Sharif, Learn the Restoration of traditional Mughal, Persian, Miniature Paintings, paper restoration, water color, wood and oil paintings, of south Asian and Contemporary Painting from Sheikh Shuja Ullah
• 1973–74 National Diplomas of Arts (NDA) National College of Arts, Lahore-Pakistan^[1]

Experience and achievements

• 2011 Principal-National College of Arts, Lahore
• 2006 Officiating Principal-National College of Arts, Lahore.
• 2005–2014 Head of Department of Fine Arts-NCA
• 2003 Convener Committee of unified Syllabus of Fine Arts for Institutes’ and university’s of Pakistan,
• 2002 Selection of Associate Professor of Fine Art (Selected by the Board of Governors-NCA)
• 1998 Workshop Taught Techniques of miniature Painting and basics calligraphy at Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena L.A.U.S.A
• 1997 Taught Techniques of Miniature Painting gad rang and sayah qualm, one complete color painting and Sayah qualm technique completed by the students at Oklahoma still water University Art Department Undergraduate Program me, Oklahoma –USA.
• 1997 Lecture demonstration on techniques and history of Muslim Miniature Painting Mughal India at Arkansas, Conway University Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A
• 1995 Workshop of technique of Miniature Painting, Brush Making, Paper Making, for four month three day in a week, complete gad rang miniature painting Sayah qualm painting, techniques at Pacific Asia Museum Pasadena, L.A USA.
• 1995 Workshop Taught Technique of Miniature Painting, coerce for four month three days in a week complete, gad rang painting, Sayah qualm painting at Arvin University, Orange Country, LA, USA.
• 1995 Workshop for one week teach the technique of Miniature Painting and Wasli & Brush making technique at Hall Marks Card Company Complex, Art Department for ten senior artists, Kansas City Missouri
• 1994 Delivered lectures on History and Teaching of Miniature Painting, and discus the Western Art Composition, with Mughal Indian Miniature painting of Muslim era comparison, and contemporary miniature painting art form, in the Department of University Maryland,
• 1994 Delivered lectures on History and Teaching of Miniature Painting Howard University, Boston, Massachusetts, on invitation of Asia society,
• 1994 Delivered lectures on History and Teaching of Miniature Painting, Kansas City Art Institute Kansas, Measure, and also gave a talk about my paintings & drawings, at Oklahoma Still Water Oklahoma
• 1993 Lecture on Journey of Muslim Miniature Painting into Subcontinent, at Hunrkada Art School Islamabad, Pakistan.
• 1992 Lecture on Technique of Miniature Painting of Mughal Art and Art appreciation at the British Council, Lahore Pakistan
• 1992 Lecture on the display of Mughal Miniature Painting at National Museum, talk about Muslim architecture in New

Delhi, Agra, Japer, in India, took twenty seven Students on Study tower to Agra, Japer and New Delhi, India

• 1988 Promoted as Assistant Professor of Fine Arts on seniority basis, National College of Arts, Lahore Pakistan
• 1982 Founder of Degree Program of Miniature

Painting of the bachelor's degree course that is first degree curriculum in the history of miniature Painting in The world, and approved by the college academic Board of steady’s, and Classes started in 1982. This is the first Syllabi ever in the Studio Arts degree program in the world

• 1983 Special authentication adviser to the Director Central Museum of Lahore, Pakistan
• 1976 Selected by the Board of Governors of National College of Arts, and appoint as a Lecturer of Fine Arts, Miniature Painting, and Drawing
• 1975–76 Program Tehrik-e-Pakistans in collaboration with Pakistan Television PTV, Lahore Pakistan the producers was Shahid Mahmood Nadeem
• 1976–90 Patron of Rowing Club took the Expedition to Travel from River Ravi to head Bloke on country Boats and conduct rowing competitions of Rowing Club National College of Arts, Lahore
• 1973 Designed Stage setting five backdrops size 15 feats wide and 100 feats long at Lahore fort for Islamic Summit Conference at Lahore Fort Pakistan.

Exhibitions curated

• 2010 Curated an exhibition of Amjad Butt Silver foils Paintings of calligraphic images’ at Karachi and Design the catalog. Curated a Group Exhibition at Ocean Art Gallery Lahore
• 2009 Ocean Art Gallery Lahore Group Exhibition of five Karachi artists from Karachi, exhibited their work
• 2008 Ocean Art Gallery Karachi, Artists of Karachi and Lahore exhibited their work^[1]
• 2006 Curated an exhibition at Kampo Museum Minamigosho- cho Okazaki Sakyo-ku Kyoto, Japan,
• Curated Miniature Painting at French Embassy Islamabad.
• 2005 Curated Ustad Shah gird inaugurated by M.F. Husain at the National College of Arts.
• 2004 Curated an exhibition on the SAARC summit Conference Islamabad, Hunarkada Art School Islamabad, Pakistan,
• 2004 Curated an exhibition of Miniature Painting at Kunj Art Gallery, Karachi (section, 2003–2004)
• 2003 Curated an exhibition of Miniature Painting at Kunj Art Gallery, Karachi (Student work).
• 2003 Curated an exhibition of Photography (seeing before the wards) by the Raza Kazim at Zahurrul Akhlaque Gallery, NCA, Lahore.
• 2003 Convener of Committee of Syllabus of Fine Arts for the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad Pakistan.
• 2002 Curated an exhibition of Miniature Painting in IKM International Cultural Museum in Oslo (Norway).
• 2001 Curated a National exhibition of Miniatures In Islamabad & Karachi for National Council in Muhata Palace Karachi.
• 2000 Curated an exhibition of Miniature Painting of Seven students at Pacific Asia Museum Pasadena L.A., USA for the promotion of miniature Painting form Pakistan and National College of Arts, Lahore.
• 1994-2006 Curated, Exhibitions, Students work at Hunarkada Islamabad, Kung Art Galleries Karachi, and Ejaz art Galleries Lahore & Ocean art Galleries Lahore, Karachi.

Restoration

• 1981- Ongoing Restoration of Miniature Paintings, oil paintings, water color, wood doors and other items for Private collections

Professional Memberships

• 2000–Present Friends of Central Museum, Lahore Pakistan
• 1999–Present Artists Association of Punjab, Lahore
• 1994–95 Art History Society, Chicago (USA),* 1994–Present Pacific Asia Museum (Honorary) Pasadena, Los Angeles C.A. USA

Asia Society N.Y (USA) C.A.A (College Art Association) USA

• 1994–Present, Member of California Art Club (Honorary).

Study Tours Attended

• Paul Getty Museum Santa Monica, L.A USA,
• Norton Simon Museum Pasadena, L.A- USA Delivered lectures on History and Teaching of Miniature Painting,
• Los Angeles Country Museum, L.A – USA,* Pacific Asia Museum Pasadena L.A- USA
• Nelson Museum Kansas City, M.O.
• 1997 Art Department of Iowa State University, Iowa, USA
• 1997 Metropolitan Museum of Art York on Special Exhibition Badshahnama (Collection of Queen of England.
• 1997 Court Painting of Mughal Collection of saint painting U.S.S.R at Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y.U,*Visit Visual Art Department of Pratt Institute Brookline, New York N.Y,
• 1995 Tour of Headquarter of Hall Mark Art Department Different Departments of making paper Mache, print, dolls, ceramics, And cards, Kansas City M.O
• 1995 Pacific Asian Museum, Study and appraising of different objects of the Museum .
• 1995 Study of the South Asian Gallery of Los Angeles Country Museum Painting by the invitation of Partapadita pal Curator of the Museum other of South Asian Miniatures paintings Sculptures and other Art.
• 1995 Ontario University Toronto Art Department and Gallery (Toronto Canada.)
• 1994 Pacific Asia Museum L.A. at the opening of the Contemporary paintings of Pakistan the gust of pacific Asian Museum L.A. Stayed at Einstein Room,
• Visit to the Huntington Garden, Library and Museum L.A.
• 1994 Maryland Art Department, Washington Square, Smithsonian, *National Museum, Secular Gallery, Henry Moor Sculpture Garden at Washington D.C. USA.
• Visit to Department of Chicago Art Institute, the Museum and the Galleries.

Major Projects

• Upraising of Miniature Paintings of private collection of Mr.Massod from orlen City Washington State U.S.A.
• Painted a ceiling (Tile Design, Jali Work) for World Exxpo-2005, Aichi-Japan (Sealing Size 64’x64’)
• Painted a Mughal painting Mural for the New Lahore Airport (Allama Iqbal Airport) commissioned by Civil Aviation Authority (Size 71/2x27’)
• 2000 Painted the Portrait of General Pervae Musharraf, President of Pakistan, Present on the 8th Convocation of NCA
• 1999 Appointed for analysis of Miniature paintings and the Pakistan Galleries in the collection of the Central Museum, Lahore Pakistan by the Board of Lahore Museum for verification.
• 1998–99 Examiner M.A Final Examination, Muslim Architecture, Painting & Exhibition work Punjab University.
• 1997 Restoration and repair of the hundred and six year old wooden door (floral Patterns and paper mashie, with hand ground oil paints) in the Principal’s office (collection of the NCA).
• 1997 Portrait of Mr. Sponnburg the first Principal of NCA on the 6th Convocation Lahore-Pakistan.
• 1996 Mold of Portrait of Quid-e-Azam (Loss Wax method) Hallow Cast, (Governor House Karachi).
• 1995 The Mughal" Stage Drama, Direction, Stage designing and costume, for Pakistan Arts Council Pasadena, L.A, USA at Pacific Asia Museum.
• Appraisal of Miniature Painting Archives at Nelson Museum, Kansas City, M.O. USA
• 1994 Presented a Portrait of Maharaj Ghulam Hassan Kathak to the Pacific Asia Museum (Permanent Collection), Pasadena.
• Muscatine Museum of Art, Muscatine Iowa, USA.
• 1993 Design tree Plantation Festival in collaboration with Deputy Commissioner, Lahore-Pakistan.
• 1990–1995 Patron and established the Puppeteer Association at National College of Arts, Lahore.
• 1990–1996 External Examiner of BFA, Sialkot, Sargodha
• Float Design for the Punjab Govt. Lahore.
• 1995 Boston Museum, Mass Art Institute, Howard University and Individual Art Studios Boston USA. Road Ireland school of Design and Brow university providence U.S.A.
• Study tour of 27 students to India, Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur to meet the Miniature Painters and Museums and Historical Places (India)
• Visit to Yale University New Haven Green, British Museum and Yale Museum Connecticut Washington D.C. Visit the Smithsonian Institution and the other Galleries Maryland School of Art and Scenarios, Part, Columbia University, New York University.
• 1976–Present Took Students on Study tour in different locations in Pakistan.

Art work at public private collections

• Shaukat Khnam Cancer Hospital, Lahore-Pakistan,
• England, - Istanbul Turkey, - Toronto,(Canada) Maryland, - Kansas City, M.O - Pasadena, C.A. Boston, - New York, - Texas, Huston - Sidney, Australia – Singapore - Dubai, UAE, Iran – Norway Oslo – Kyoto Japan, and all major cities of Pakistan.

Art work at permanent collection of museums

• Kampo Museum Okazaki Sakyo-ku Kyoto Japan
• Portrait painting of Mahraj katak on oval of Ivory presented to the Museum in the permanent collection of Pacific Asia Museum Pasadena, L.A, and C.A, USA
• Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, C.A. (USA) Nelson museum, Kansas City, M.O. (USA),
• Art work at Nelson museum, Kansas City, M.O. (USA)

Awards

• 14th Annual Exhibition-Lifetime Achievement Award on traditional Muslim Art from Artists, Association of Punjab.
• The Associate ship of the National College of Arts Awarded by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
• First Award on drawing exhibition of South Asia Regional Council at Lahore Pakistan, arranged by PNCA in Lahore Pakistan.
• First Award, oil and Canvas, Artist Equity exhibition on Tarbela Water Power, Lahore Pakistan.
• Chughtai Award, on over all contribution of traditional and Muslim Miniature Painting in Pakistan.

References

• Bashir Ahmed Paintings

Sources

• http://thesaproject.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/artist-the-raving-lunatic/
• https://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200904/reinventing.the.miniature.painting.htm
• http://www.marcellasirhandi.com/gallery.html
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140717042438/http://weeklypulse.org/details.aspx?contentID=1237&storylist=3
• http://www.nca.edu.pk/Post-Dept-Visul-Arts.html
• http://unicorngalleryblog.com/2014/07/25/bashir-ahmed/
• http://www.pakistanartreview.net/24th_Issue/24th_Page_7.html
• http://www.marcellasirhandi.com/ContemporaryMiniature.html
• http://eapgroup.com/index.php/1997/11/22/ustad-bashir-ahmad-and-the-year-of-indian-miniature-painting/%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
• http://tribune.com.pk/story/687151/painting-exhibition-miniature-artists-recall-technique-of-a-bygone-era/
• http://tribune.com.pk/story/726965/workshop-making-miniature-painting-techniques-easy/
• http://www.npr.org/2015/10/02/445291163/breaking-the-mold-artists-modern-miniatures-remix-islamic-art