Interview with Muhammad Arshad Khan MAK Fine Artist

I live in world for art and peace therefore I am committed to serve the global humanity through the skills I have acquired. And I am heartedly thankful to friends who contribute good in my life and spread my message to masses.

I am shouldering the below mentioned responsibilities.

1)Artist (Painter & Sculptor),

2)Chairman Ranrra Trust,

3)Cultural Secretary Pukhtoon Thinkers Forum, 

4)Manager Administration TCS (Pvt) Ltd

BIOGRAPHY

Muhammad Arshad Khan popularly known as “MAK” to his friends. His father name is Muhammad Azam Khan. Mak is born in Pontia, Tehsil Topai, District Swabai Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa on October 14, 1969 but his recorded birth date is February 16, 1972. He is the eldest of one sister after him and then 5 younger brothers. He spent few years of early 70s in Karachi then his family shifted to Topai where he grew up in Mohallah Serai (a labor colony of Pukhtoon Society). Topai is also the birthplace of Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan (the founder of Government High School Topi, Islamia College Peshawar and the first Chief Minister of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. Pontia and Topi is situated under the shade of Mahaban Peak, on the left bank of Abasen/Indus River. The river, which flows in the middle of Takhtbai and Taxila, is the remnant of the land called a symbol of Gandhara and Indus Civilization. From the might of Alexander the Great and Ashoke, to the construction of one of world’s largest dams and Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Science and Technology, Topai is a place of high esteem.

ACADEMIC GROWTH

Mak has acquired basic religious education from his family and mosque. His academic career starts from Government Primary School Shaheedan Topai, and then Government High School Topai, from where he obtained his secondary school certificate in 1988. After qualifying intermediate examination from Peshawar Board his cousin Khalid Zaman who was studying at Karachi University took him to Karachi University on August 14, 1992 where he studied Sociology as a major subject with great interest, along with Mass Communication as a subsidiary subject, and Community Development and Urban Sociology as specialized subjects in Bachelor of Arts (Honors) and in 1996, he earned a Master of Arts.

He compiled the research thesis work under the title of “Study of The Factors Effecting Maternal and Infant Health In Low Income Groups of Urban” to qualify with a masters degree. The universe for research was New Muzzafar Abad Colony, Landhi Industrial Area, Karachi where he is still residing.

 

PAYBACK TO THE SOCIETY

From his teenage Mak actively used to participate in social activities at his colonial Hujra (Pukhtoon Community Center) therefore he is broadened up with rich pukhtoon bonds dignity. Due to his social developments from mosque as a Muslim, from hujra as a pukhtoon, from Karachi University as sociologist, from TCS as administrator and from BM as an artist, Mak is always anxious to pay back to society for this purpose he has organized his social welfare activities through Ranrraa Trust and Pukhtoon Thinkers Forum and landmarked fabulous achievements. 

ART CAREER 

 

Mak had been drawn to arts right from his childhood for unknown, reasons and with extraordinary abilities. During his high school education he used to prepare signboards for his villagers. He was best in drawings among his school mates but he couldn’t get proper guidance to reach to fine arts school. Mak says, “I am highly grateful to Khalid Zaman who brought me to Karachi”. Availing its metropolitan opportunities, he started his artistic journey as an actor from theater where he as the student of Ahmed Farooqui an actor qualified from Poonum Arts School, in music he was student of Mrs. Ahmed at PACC (Pak American Cultural Center) , and Student Politician at Karachi University along with his academic growth, He was also a writer of the Theosophical Society Karachi, but nothing satisfied his artistic yearnings.
Soon after passing out from Karachi University, and joining TCS as a source of earning he attained the rare opportunity to become the favorite student of the world famous, Pride of Performance award winner painter and Ex-Cultural Attaché for Australia, Mr. Bashir Mirza popularly known as BM. Mak was referred to BM by Fasihuddin who was art teacher in Central School of arts, Arts Council Karachi, where Mak used to go for his drama rehearsals BM started teaching him drawings and paintings from September 1997 till his death on January 5, 2000. During this period he transferred his treasured knowledge of art and socialization to him. He had also taken some classes from Nayyer Jameel.

Mak is the last crusade of the "Sunday Gathering” of Ali Imam at his Indus Gallery. He was introduced to the gathering by BM in 1997 and remains active member till the death of Ali Imam in 2002 that . The gathering made the Indus Gallery a great forum where regular members Ali Imam, BM, Saleem Asmi, Professor Dr. Haroon, M. M. Usmani, Suleman Ganchi, Iqbal Jaffery, Aftab Tapal, Tasaduq Sohail, and other national as well as international scholars and other celebrities get to gather and exchange their knowledge about arts and Mak used to listen to them.

 

SPECIALITIES

Artist’s Statement Growing up close to nature, a country boy in serene landscape with rich historic roots inspired in me a treasured study Literature, and Philosophy as well as the achievement of a Masters degree in Sociology. The years of study enabled me to develop intellectual sensitivity. This quality motivated me to follow ambitious aims and aspirations achieved through hard work; propelling me to heights of attainment. In my art expression I have developed two styles. 1st Style Impressionist: I use this style mostly to preserve my conscious observations regarding nature, its divine composition and the close relationship with all organic life. In the process I attempt to portray the importance of humanity’s role in nature, tracing the historic changes though times, thus to preserve the past and the present for generations to come. 2nd Style Deeply inspired by light and line I initially conceived subtle/exotic shapes on palm. Since then transcending sociopolitical and geographical confinement, I created forms representing spirituality and philosophical contemplation transferred from my imagined visions to the canvas. Art enthusiasts discovered spontaneous schools of thoughts in my work style, which initiates a dialogue. Still I am unsure of what movement should I attribute my art to, but I know the more the viewer examines my work the more you he discovers. 1. Conceptualism 2. Cubism 3. Surrealism 4. Modernism 5. Abstraction 6. Contemporary 7. Dadaism 8. Impressionism 9. Pop Art 10. Fantasy 11. Dialogue…………. Fields I have specialty. Nudes, Figures, Abstraction, Still, Landscapes, Portraits  

FINE ARTIST SHOWS

National:

- S. S. Hyder Award Exhibition organized by Abasin Art Council, Peshawar in National Art gallery, Pakistan National Council of The Arts, Ministry of Culture, Pakistan on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 

- Group show in Arts Council, Karachi, July 20 - 27, 2009 

- Group show in City Art Gallery, Karachi Wednesday, May 27-30, 2009.  

- Group show at Jarooka Art Gallery, Islamabad 

- Group show at Gulmohar Art Gallery Karachi 

- All Pakistan Allama Iqbal Paintings and Portrait Exhibition in Allama Iqbal Academy Lahore, Pakistan. Posthumous show of BM organized by Momart Gallery February 5, 2000.

Shows  International:

- “World Art Expo and Conference 09” California, USA June 04 – 14, 2009, organized by World Art Foundation. 

- 1st International Conference on Art and Art Exhibition in Sindh University, Pakistan 

- 15th Istanbul Art Fair “Artist 2005” Istanbul, Turkey. 

-  Second International Art Festival “Chania 2004” Greece.

 

COLLECTIONS

 

- Two paintings in Geography Department, University of Zurich, Switzerland.  

- 10 paintings Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Cancer Hospital, Pakistan. 

-  Portrait of Sir, Sahibzada A. Q. Khan the founder of Islamia College Peshawar to Islamia College Peshawar Pakistan.

PUBLICATIONS

- Painting published on the title page of the book of Tahir Afridi “DA SO LAHZO LOYA QISA”. 

- Catalogue of 1st International Conference on Art and Art Exhibition in Sindh University, Pakistan 

- Have a chapter named for me in a book on Bashir Mirza by Marjorie Husain, “Bashir Mirza The Last of the Bohemians”. 

- Catalogue of 15th Istanbul Art Fair Turkey 

- Government Commerce College Mansehra has published Mak’s painting on the title page of their annual magazine ALQISTAS. 

- Catalogue of 2nd International Art Festival “Chania 2004” Greece  

- Described in the biography of BM “Do Musawir Bashir Mirza Aur Azir Zubi by Shafi Aqeel over 5 pages. 

- Printing of painting “Floral Fiesta” on the greetings card of The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi fund raising scheme. 

- Greeting Cards catalogue of The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.

ACHIEVEMENTS

- Two paintings “GREAT EXPECTATIONS” and “ESCAPE”, oil on canvas, each 30 x 21", reached to Clark's Fine Art & Auctioneers Inc. 

- Liquidating 3 Gallery .... Lot, Lot 158, 600 - 900. Mohammad Arshad Khan (b. 1972) Pakistan http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7366167 

- Solo demonstration “Mera Aaj Ka Pakistan 2008” at Karachi Press Club on January 1, 2008 against terrorism to bring about peace not only in Pakistan but also in world.

- Upon invitation of Consul General of Turkey Mak visited The 13th Istanbul Art Fair “Artist 2003”, 2003. 

- Conducted one day Fine Arts Summer Camp for children in Pakistan Arts Council, Karachi on May 30, 2002. 

- With the co-ordination of Zafar Akbar (PTV (Pakistan Television) organized and produced a program “Remembering BM” aired on February 15, 2000

Pukhtoon Thinkers Forum

Mak is a founder member and Social Secretary of “Pukhtoon Thinkers Forum” was established on November 16, 2007 under the guidance and leadership of his university friends Mr. Qasim Jan as it’s President and Advocate Qadir Khan General Secretary, as a non profitable organization with the sole purpose to promote uniquely embodied and globally cherished philosophy of non-violence specially the unmatched version placed by one of the great intellectuals of recent past the great “Bacha Khan” as known to masses as and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan to his family. The main objective of Pukhtoon Thinkers Forum is to promote the Pukhtoon, Culture, Arts, and Literature and to bring harmony among different communities of Pakistan especially in the city of lights i.e. Karachi.

 

Events Seminar:

- Mushaera and live consort in the honor of Ghani Khan (Pukhotoon philosopher, poet, painter and sculptor), Arts Council Karachi, April 04, 2008 Consort,

-  Abaseen House Karachi, April 06, 2008 

- Mushaera:  In the honor of pukhtoon eminent poet Ajmal Khattak, Abaseen House Karachi, June 21, 2008 

- Mushaera: In the honor of pukhtoon sufi poet Rahman Baba, Abasin House, Karachi, December 06, 2008 

Seminar: 

- The Non-Violent Philosophy of Bacha Khan Today and Tomorrow, PMA House Karachi, March 08, 2009 

- Second International Seminar Latoon Da Ghani Khan (The Search of Ghani), Arts Council, Karachi, May 23, 2009 

- Seminar Rahman Baba ao Falsafa-e-Insaniat (Raman Baba and Philosophy of Humanity), Arts Council Karachi, April 26, 2010 

- Seminar  Bacha Khan Amn Mushaera Aman Mushaera, Arts Council Karachi, January 30, 2011

Ranrraa Development Trust

The Trust operates since 2006 from New Muzaffarabad Colony, Landhi Industrial Area Karachi. This area is mostly dwelled by the pukhtoon laborers working in nearby factories. "Ranrra" is basically a Pashto word which has multiple meanings as Light, Sacred Conception and Bright Vision etc. "Ranrraa" is above racial differences and serves a free environment to serve the students through counseling, study tours, group studies, academic and extra curricular activities. It has its own reading hall which remains open round the clock and facilitates approximately 50 to 60 students of all walks of life, at the moment.

 

The mission of trust is to boost up the morale and life of the students already deprived of their vision, directly affected by terrorism in Swat and Waziristan as most of the dwellers belong to these areas. This is one of its efforts in attempting to rebuild the spirits and confidence to restart the life circle. 

Description Drawings & paintings classes in schools from 2005 

-  Formal establishment of Ranrra, Saturday, March 31, 2001 

-  Study tour to 5th International Book Fair, Expo Center, Karachi, Sunday, December 13, 2009 

-  Study tour to The National Museum Karachi, Saturday, February 13, 2010 

-  Study tour to The Quid-e-Azam House Museum, Karachi, Saturday, February 13, 2010 

-  Recreational tour to Sea Side, Saturday, February 13, 2010

TCS PVT LTD

After qualifying master in Sociology from Karachi University I joined TCS in 1997 as Admin Office and this is my first employer.

EDUCATION

Karachi University 1997

Government high school

Topi Swabi1988

President Pakistan NC http://wagames.org

Manager Administration in TCS Head Office www.tcs.com.pk

For write up please click on: http://branchout.com/Muhammad.Arshad.Khan.

For my visual reference please visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292864084078053.74864.292807500750378&type=3.

If you want any immediate answer and explanation then you can call me on my mobile: # +92 300 8292317.