LAHORE: A solo exhibition of pencil sketch portraits by a special artist, Muhammad Azeem, opened in connection with the Independence Day celebrations here on Tuesday at Alhamra Art Gallery, The Mall.

The exhibition was organised by Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) Institute of Special Education in collaboration with Lahore Arts Council. The event was inaugurated by Rangers Director General Maj Gen Azhar Naveed Hayat.

The exhibition that showcased some 21 or so artworks was the first solo show by the 28-year-old artist and also the first public exhibition. The artist had depicted the portraits of national leaders and personalities of the country such as Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan.

LAC Fine Arts Assistant Director Mina Haroon said: “The artist’s work is extremely good. It carries a professional look showing that the artist has a profound command on drawing.”

The artist by birth does not have legs and arms. He grabs the pencil or brush in his elbows and draws with great proficiency. Some of the artworks depicted migration stories. A documentary on artist’s style of working and his photographs while drawing were also part of the exhibition.

Afreen Zahra, Nabila Qamar and Hamid Najmi, the faculty members at Pakistan Rangers Institute of Special Education, told Dawn that Muhammad Azeem was a student at the institute; in 2018 he joined the institute as a teacher. He got admission to the institute in 2005 and since then he had remained a bright student.

The exhibition will continue till Wednesday (today).

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2018