EDUCATION
Learnt to draw from his father Mia Karim Baksh. 1914
Diploma in photo lithography, Mayo School of Art, Lahore.
1932 Learnt print making techniques, London. Learnt
etching under the guidance of Sir Frank Scott. 1936-37
Trained in etching, Central School, London.
EXHIBITIONS
1920 First solo exhb., Lahore Museum, Lahore. 1920
Punjab Fine Art Society, Lahore. 1920 Group exhb., Indian
Society of Oriental Art, Calcutta. 1923 Exhb., British
Empire Exhb., Wembley. 1931 Exhb., USA. 1937 Annual
Exhb., Royal Academy of Art, London. 2004 Manifestations
II, organised by Delhi Art Gallery, Jehangir Art Gallery,
Mumbai and Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi.
COLLECTION
Prime Ministers House, Pakistan. Presidents House,
Pakistan. Governors House, of different provinces, Pakistan.
Shahenshah of Iran, Iran. Queen Elizabeth II, England.
United Nations Headquarters, New York. Peace Palace,
Hague. Universal Postal Union, Berne. National Gallery
of Modern Art, New Delhi. National Art Gallery, Islamabad.
Chughtai Museum Trust, Lahore. Baroda Museum and Picture
Art Gallery, Vadodara. Hyderabad Museum, Hyderabad.
Sri Jayachamarajendra Gallery, Mysore.
AWARDS
1934 Received the title Khan Bahadur. He was given
the title, National Artist of Pakistan. Original Chughtais
paintings were gifted to all visiting Head of States.
UNO art correspondent Jacg-baal-Teshuva wrote that Chughtais
paintings are the most outstanding among the entire
permanent collection of United Nations. Won Presidents
Pride for performance award. He was given the title
Hilal-e-Imtiaz for service to his country.
STYLE
The important element of Chughtais work is achieving
a perfect harmony of line and expression. The delicate
lines of Chughtais pictures are by no means insipid
and shaky but firm and precise with a marvellous neatness
and a most exactness of material. The figures of his
paintings are lively and not merely beautiful designs.
There are traces of emotion in the images and the gestures
are with dramatic action. Chughtai was deeply fascinated
by the facial expression of the figures of Mughal and
Persian miniatures. His figures are mostly drawn in
an attitude modified by the dignity of repose and tranquility.
In Chughtais works there is a decorative element yet
it is purely rational. The line work, the design element
and the transparent layer of colours produce a pleasing
atmospheric quality in their pictorial lyricism.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Head-Instructor, Chromo-Lithography, Mayo School of
Art, Lahore.
back |
