"Jenab Assi Chhanaa Kenh khabar ye Kaem Chhu Banovmutt. Jammu kashmir Bunkik Afsar Chhi Yor Iwaan . Timunn Gotss Prutsunn"
" Sir we do not know who has designed it. Some officers from jammu and kashmir Bank Keep coming over here . Better Ask them."
so said the gardeners in Badaam Vaari Park srinagar when i asked them as to who had designed the beautiful sculpture Fountain in the Park. This majestic almond shaped sculpture fountain in the shape of word ALLAH lies close to the well decorated Warris Khan's Chhaah( Deep Well ) in Badaam Vaari Park Srinagar .From friends in Jammu and kashmir Bank , i came to know about the creator of this beautiful sculpture . I also learnt that the artisitc Fountains at Karan Nagar , Babademb and Baba Dharam Dass Temple Chowk( Munawarabaad ) have been designed by this Artist only.Enter the world of Masood Hussain Painter from Kashmir valley ,a Trained Graphic Designer from J J School of Arts Mumbai and equally trained by his Guru and well known Painter late G. R . Santosh .
Last time i saw some water colours of late Shri D N Wali Almast Kashmiri in an Exhibition organized jointly by Cultural academy and Dr T K Wali ( Son of the late Artist ), I was thrilled to see the beauty and presentation of various facets of kashmiri life through this medium. Now that i have seen the entire collection of Masood Hussain Titled TRANSPARENT STROKES , i am simply amazed to see these superb water colour Paintings.You may find the birds , lakes , seasons and landscape beauty in his water colours yet implicitly or explicitly he paints the culture and life of the valley both urban and rural.The paintings representing rural life are sheer Nostalgic.The fishermen in their Boats ,Dal lake in various colours, Tongas , Thatched Roof houses of villagers , Autumn colours , shrines , Majestic Chinars , Old city or Shahar e Khaas views ,Snow capped Mountains ,Horses , Cows and calves ,Men and women in Pherans ,House Boats ,Doongas , Shikaras, city under snow fall,Tourist Resorts ,Badaam Vari Garden srinagar in spring Blooms ,Boulevard ,Dubbs of old buildings , Houses lined on Jhelum Banks ,Vegetable sellers in Boats ,Garlands of Red Chillies hung on windows , Chinar Leaves being burnt for Kangri charcoal ,Mughal Gardens and many more views representing kashmir and kashmir only.Just view them . It is Everybody's pleasure .
In an Art Exhibition of Masood Hussain , noted Artist Manjeet Bawa said
"In his work there are no flowers , rivers or colours , Yet he portrays the true culture of kashmir "
The use of Blue colour (possibly his favourite) by this artist is superb.The Autumn colours especially the Majestic Chinars painted by him are simply mesmerizing . Having worked as faculty at Institute of Music and Fine Arts Srinagar Since 1977 where at he trained many Present day Young artists from Kashmir , Masood Hussain has mixed Painting and sculpture and also explored the use of Papier mache and lattice work found in old houses in kashmir .From careful study of his water colours , one can confidentaly say that the artist is a master of various techniques like WASHES AND GLAZES , WET IN WET and DRY BRUSH .
Born on 15th june 1953 in an Educated family , Masood Hussain 's father was a doctor who possibly like any other kashmiri parent would not have liked his son to be an Artist. That has always been so in kashmiri families where the son would usually take over the profession of his father.A friend of mine wanted to go to Baroda to get himself properly trained as an artist ; his father advised him as under :-
" Ami Khotta Chhuai Baichhun Jaan . Kossa Darbadarri Gayee . "
" It is better to beg . Why you waste time like this "
Water Colour medium of Painting dates back possibly to Cave Painting Era .Then came the Egyptians who adopted this technique .The Europeans too adopted this style in middle ages . During Renaissance period many artists used this medium . Many modern and contemporary Portrait artists also chose and preferred this medium. The medium is going to stay longer and has ever expanding base of admirers world over .So this great work by Masood Hussain is bound to spread far and wide in the world of contemporory Art.
I am informed by friends that paintings of this artist can also be seen in different Art Galleries of USA and UK .Some can be seen in Jammu and Kashmir Bank Corporate Head Quarter , Raj Bhawan and with many private Collectors within the country .
Beautiful Dal lake done in Blue is just Nostalgic and refreshing .
This Bazar scene below depicting shrines is a typical view from the valley . The architectural beauty of shrines and old buildings , vegetable sellers , men in modern dress and Pherans is appealing in its artistic beauty and presentation.The expression on the face of the man in Pheran is Hope and helplessness..Is he Outsider of Albert Camus ?
The life of Haanjis or Boatmen depicted brings back loads of memories and sympathy .
Thatched roof huts in villages ,children and garlands of red chillies being dried under autumn sun create sheer Nostalgia.
The autumn Views done in water colours are exceptional in style and presentation. Anyone who has seen autumn colours in kashmir shall have no choice but to appreciate the work . Naseem Bagh and Shalimar Garden's Autumn Grace has been captured with magical perfection by the artist .
Khizaan Raseedaa Nigaar e Bahaar Raqs Mein hai .
Ajeeb Aalaam e Be Aetibaar Raqs Main hai .
Baras Rahein Hain Darakhaton se Rang Soorat e Barg ,
Tillism Khaana e Lailo Nahaar Raqs mein hai .
Junoon Ne Pairhan e Bargo Baar Utaar diyaa ,
Barahangee hai Ki Deewaanwar Raqs mein hai .
( Ali sardar Jafri )
A PEEP OUT OF PAST " a painted relief by Masood Hussain is a very serious creative work . This relief (uploaded below) forms the cover of Agha shahid Ali's Book THE COUNTRY WITHOUT A POST OFFICE .Masood Hussain is a master in presenting Kashmir's Pain and suffering . Men, women , children peeping from windows. Innocent faces reflecting hopelessness ,fear, resignation and longing .He conveys pain that has no religion , caste , creed or colour. Even under these grave negative vibrations all around , the artist lives and rises above to convey hope and arrival of a new dawn . There the artist in him meets demands without shirking and demonstrates courage of intellectual conviction .This relief depicts a child peeping from the window to see the outer world for he lies trapped in the emptiness and gloom of the world of his room.The child 's face is mystical .Broken pieces of wood joined together for existence and window dressing .Metaphysical in contours and presentation.This is incidentally Masood Hussain favourite painting.
Below is a village scene in water colours by the artist
While the children
are happy and playful , the mother carries the load yet keeps strict vigil on
their movement . She follows them to look at their safety . Human feelings or
Mother child relation on display .
( Photograph by the Blogger )
Masood Hussain does
not merely paint scenic beauty of valley through his water colours . This
artist is an ambassador of goodwill who paints the cultural ethos of kashmir .
An ethos that bears clear stamp of traditional Harmony that existed amongst the
inhabitants .As a sensitive artist , he is touched by the pain and suffering of
one and all. Pain has no caste , religion or creed that is what he essentially
believes . His colours are radiant enthusing hope of a Happy Dawn. May peace be
our permanent companion.
( Thanks to the Artist for allowing me to use some paintings from his collection Transparent Strokes .......Autar Mota )
CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.,
