To be an ‘Artist’
means, generally, to be
associated with making paintings. In reality, this is not so. The word ‘Artist’ may have a numerous synonyms ranging from a person working as a painter, sculptor, graphic artist, applied artist, actor, poet, writer, art designer, composer to a singer and so on. Artists generally use one medium or the other, to express their feelings or ideas with genuine skills. These include use of words, body movements and gestures or some instrument(s), still the other one may use lines, texture, forms and colours to make pavement for expression of his ideas or feelings. For various fields of creative activity, there are different mediums and skills to perform or execute the work of art.
A person, choosing more than one medium of expression in different fields of art will have a versatile character in his vorking. Many a time, we come across with such persons. These individuals dare different activities at a time or turn-wise, in the world of expression. They are, blessed with versatility of talent and are always seen busy doing something with one or the other form of art.
Mohd. Akram Khan, born in 1961, is also associated with multiple activities in the creative field like- acting, art designing, direction, documentary film making, art direction and acting in movies and tele-films. Hailing from a small town of Reasi, a far off area of J&K State, he is basically a Painter by virtue of his main talent. He has travelled a long to see the world of art in its multifold nature. He has been able to coordinate a multi-faceted character of his personality in these fields. He feels that to work with a creative activity gives pleasure and satisfaction but living a versatile creative life style gives more satisfaction and joy. Like we have an instinct to taste different kind of food items to satiate our physical instincts, we also need different modes of expression for achieving satisfaction for our creative instincts. Due to this reason he had been a part of a number of creative fields.
So far, he has worked as Art Director/ Directed/ acted in Documentary Films which include - Himalayan Culture Heritage-2013, Art, Culture & Tribals-2012. T.V. Aid Talash Survey, 2012; T.V. Serials-Parivartan-2001, Sarpanch- 2002. Dahleez (DD-I) -2003, Bin Phool Dali (Dogri). T.V. Serial - 2005 and Feature Film-Vishwas- 2004; Mehandi Laan De (Pahari Film) 2006, Tele Film-Lakeer-2007. He is associated with film production and has acted in and directed many stage plays. He has participated in many national and international level Art Exhibitions and put up his group shows at various places in the country to showcase his basic instinct of a Painter. His talent has been recognized at all levels i.e. from state up to international level and nas been rewarded suitably.
The field of art he has chosen, has an incident to narrate here. One day when Akram had the opportunity to see some paintings on display, out of curiosity, inquired ‘Who has put those paintings on display and whose paintings are these?’ He came to know that the works of local artists were displayed by the Cultural Academy of the state for view of the general public. Few of those works had also got awards. Further, he came to know that anyone could try his entry in those shows. Next time, he tried and was successful to get entry in the Art Exhibition of J&K State Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Jammu. But for his success in the field of art and drama, he credits his teachers Sh. Ishar Das Chanchal and Sh. Sagar Sharma for recognizing his talent and patronizing it at college level.
He has a creditable contribution in the field of art of Painting. He generally uses Acrylic and oil colours in his Paintings. He works on the themes related to peace, beauty, nature, life of rural women folk and rituals etc., depicting myriad gestures, postures, struggle and expressions. In his paintings, he generally uses local elements like wooden architecture, human figures, leaves, flowers, stones, water, shells, insects, birds, sometimes in abstract form, autumn colours with rendering and texture, interwoven rhythms which permeate the visible world and interfuse the pattern of painting. His paintings are having a harmonious view to enthuse into the mind of the onlooker, the feeling of the melodious effect of the colours, texture and form. According to Art Critic Kristine Micheal ‘The works are marked with pastures revealing serenity. His paintings show love for nature and a sensibility of the synergy between man, woman and environment, and its unity with nature.’
The main features in his themes move around the content of feelings and concerns of common people in the lap of nature. Women folk, old people, innocence of the people, green fields or forests around, people engaged in rituals and ceremonies are generally painted in his works.
Different situations, moods, aspirations and desires of the people are incorporated in the scheme of things to depict the themes. The themes of isolation, agony, joy and sorrow add to the flavour of the depicted visuals. While doing so, the colour scheme and composition automatically shift according to the need of the situation. In the work ‘Old Memories’ an old person is shown pondering deeply. The colour scheme with subdued dull brown and dullness of view, add to aesthetic look of the work. In another work, a lady with a musical (string) instrument in her hand, has been suitably painted in orange- browns on one side and the light green and sky colours on the other side of the art work, to bring into play the mood of the painting.
Sh. Akram Khan has made a niche for himself in the field of art, in and outside the state. He has participated in state, national and international art exhibitions like- ‘The Ganga’ Exhibition of Paintings-2011; Exhibition by Viraj Kala Kendra, Jammu-2003, 2011; Exhibition of Paintings at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi-2009; Creative Paintings Exhibition at Bhubaneshwar-2008; Exhibition of Paintings by Senior Artists, Kala Kendra, Jammu-2006; Exhibition by Chitramayee State Gallery of Fine Arts, Hyderabad-2005; Annual J&K State Art Exhibition-1985, 98,2014; Platinum Jubilee Annual All India Art Exhibition, New Delhi-2003; Bank of Punjab Art Exhibition, Chandigarh-2002; International Plus Art Exhibition, Germany-2002; Fifty Years of Art in Independence India Exhibition, New Delhi-1997; 1st All India Art Exhibition Shahbad, Karnataka- 1996, 6th All India Art Exhibition by UP LKA, Lucknow-1994; Exhibition of Paintings of All India Painters’ Camp (at Patnitop), Jammu-1993; Golden Jubilee Art Exhibition, Jammu-1992; All India Art Exhibition, by Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar-1990, 92, 93, 94, 97, 2007, 2013; 4th All India Art Exhibition by South Centre Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur-1990; 5th Annual All India Fine Arts Exhibition, Calcutta-1989; Border Area Art Exhibition, J&K-1988; Republic Day Celebration Group Shows, Jammu-1987, 88 and Contemporary Indian Art Exhibition, Jammu-1985 etc. He has displayed his art in Group Shows at Amar Mahal Museum, Jammu-2014, Central University, Jammu-2014. General Zorawar Singh Degree College, Reasi-2012, Republic Day Tableaux Design (J&K), 2009-14. Kala Kendra Jammu-2008. Abhinav Art,Gallery, Jammu-2004. DMCH, Ludhiana-2003. Srinagar-1997. Katra -1994. Kishtwar (J&K)-1990 etc. He has attended many art camps, workshops and symposia.
He has also got awards and honours to his credit. He has been awarded with/ by Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar-2012; J&K State Art Exhibition-1997. 2011, Camlin Award-2005, 07; Innovative and Creative Peoples’ Meet, Udhampur-2003; Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana-2003; International Plus Art, Germany- 2002; All India Art Exhibition, Shahbad, Karnataka-1996; Cultural Academy’s Golden Jubilee Art Exhibition, Jammu-1992; Tableaux Award Republic Day Parade, Jammu-2011,12,13 &14 etc.
For Akram the world of phantasy and play with expression was stronger than what is academically taught. He opted for the world of creativity and expression. Although he has done M.A.; B.Ed.; National Certificate Course in Drawing and Painting; Degree Course in Painting from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, his main concern is the professional adventure in the field of art. He enjoys the flight of his dreams becoming a reality in life through these fields. One hopes the adventures like those quoted above, will explore for him, the external shape of the world of the vision in the remaining part of his creative journey. |
