Amaster illustrator, skilled painter and dedicated drawing teacher, Zulfikar Aazeen is from that generation of visual artists who witnessed various phases of socio-political life in a newly formed country struggling for survival and cultural identity. Going through the thick and thin of life such artists kept their passion for art alive and inspired the young generation of magazine readers and art students to paint and draw.

Born in Lahore to portrait sculptor and painter Ozzir Zuby, a Mayo School of Arts instructor, his father was his first inspiration as an artist. His family moved to Karachi where he lived a major part of his life working as a professional illustrator and painter.

Nostalgic for a peaceful Karachi where he started schooling in the mid ‘50s, he remembers his father’s studio as the first art institution where he learnt the fundamentals.

“After my father’s studio I joined Pakistan Security Printing Corporation in 1965 to learn the art of banknote engraving from British experts. I worked there for eight years, which added a lot to my skills. After realising that there is scope for the art of engraving in Pakistan, I quit that job in 1973 and ventured into making art and doing freelance illustration jobs for various Karachi-based Urdu publications.”

“My works were well received by the readers and publishers. I was offered a job by a leading publication in 1990 where I worked for 26 years. The practice of reading a story and making illustrations helped me develop a sense of storytelling through the visuals,” he further narrates.

With four solo shows and numerous group shows to his credit, Mr Aazeen’s career spans over four decades in various genres of visual arts, including painting, calligraphy and illustration.

Enjoying a command over various mediums, he works with a very sharp observation, employing confident strong lines. In most of his visuals he employs a rich palette. While painting portraits and street scenes, he captures the character of his subjects. His illustrations have a strong influence from master western illustrators that reflects his deep understanding of portraying human expressions and anatomy. The calligraphic compositions are created with a sound sense of designing the space using flowing broad lines and radiant colours to appease the viewers.

Frightened by street crimes, terrorism and the chaotic city life of Karachi he moved to Lahore a few years ago and established an art academy which sustained for few months only. He is currently confined to his studio apartment, painting and looking for an opportunity to teach at an art institution.

Mr Aazeen has groomed a lot of young artists and a few of them are now known names in the art scene of Karachi.

Struggling to establish a studio to train art students in Lahore, Zulfikar Aazeen is determined to pass on his lifelong experiences to the young generation.

“I don’t know how long I am going to live for and don’t want to keep to myself what I have learned from practice, books and my teachers. I wish to teach till my last breath,” he concludes.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2019