Mohammed Ali Jinnah continues to be Pakistan’s most revered and unmatched political leader. His persona evokes both awe and admiration. His portraits, whether in the form of photographs, paintings or sketches, are abundantly visible in the day-to-day life of Pakistanis, be it on currency notes, public buildings, educational institutions, offices or other private collections.

A most recent public display of Jinnah’s portraits came forth in an impressive exhibition at The National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore. Preserving Legacy, a display that commemorated the 79th Pakistan Resolution Day, showcased portraits made by veteran artist Prof Saeed Akhtar over the past 50 years. Akhtar is regarded as one of Pakistan’s most talented portraitists, and his painterly depictions of the Quaid-i-Azam in particular are indeed amongst the best one has seen. The element of genuine personal reverence for Jinnah’s personality is evident in the works — be it a larger-than-life, full-sized portrait in oils, or a deftly rendered sketch in charcoal.

The most striking aspect of the exhibition is the spectacular scale of many of the paintings, all of them realistic, except for one in an abstract format. Take for example, the larger-than-life, 9X6ft canvas painted in oils and depicting the Quaid sitting on a leather sofa with the Pakistani flag seen softly draped in the background; or a same-sized painting showing him in more relaxed surroundings replete with a flower arrangement, ornate furniture and patterned carpet, with a window opening into a picturesque garden.

Saeed Akhtar’s respect for the Quaid-i-Azam combined with his masterful painterly skill lends an extraordinary appeal to a special exhibition

In either case, the rendering of facial and bodily features, expressions and even the details of attire, successfully conjure up the image of an extraordinary personality. Also, the artist’s ability to render light and shade, texture and tactile quality of not only the human anatomy but also inanimate objects, adds to the aura of the portrait compositions. The scintillating shimmer in the eyes with their resolute gaze is, in particular, a distinguishing feature of Jinnah’s face, which Akhtar captures with aplomb in most of his portraits.

The relatively smaller works are mostly in a monochrome palette. The artist has chosen either ochres or opted for a black-and-white rendering in charcoal. Here, too, the realistic detailing of features successfully captures the facial features and expressions, ranging from mostly resolute and pensive to the occasional light-hearted expression. There is one sculpture as well, which comes across as a poignant depiction of Jinnah, his face weary with ill health, carrying the burden of an immense task and mission.

The huge mural-like painting that is part of the exhibition particularly engages every viewer. This 30ft long and 10ft high quadriptych depicts not only Jinnah but also his sister Fatima Jinnah, Allama Mohammad Iqbal, and all the various individuals who were part of the Pakistan movement. A total of 42 full-scale portraits, with the Badshahi Mosque in the backdrop, create an epic composition. It is a sort of grand finale to an exhibition that comes across as rather awe-inspiring rather than common and cliched. Many of the works, including the largest one, are from the artist’s personal collection and are evidence of his personal devotion to the memory of the founder of the nation and all that he stood for.

“Preserving Legacy” was held at the National College of Arts in Lahore from March 22 till April 10, 2019

Published in Dawn, EOS, April 28th, 2019