PESHAWAR: Hira Ali, a young teacher of arts and design department, University of Peshawar (UoP), has won several international awards and commendation certificates during her artistic and teaching career.

She has become the first young female artist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to have acclaimed such a high pinnacle at world level.

A resident of Peshawar city, Hira Ali is presently pursuing higher studies in digital media arts at Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, under the supervision of Prof Jin Hui, a noted lacquer artist and dean of Minjing School of Fine Arts. Her research is deeply rooted in the revival and promotion of Mughal miniature painting.

“My main objective is to blend the traditional styles of the Mughal studio with contemporary lacquer art and digital media as the art landscape is rapidly changing at global level alongside different motifs and expression of art strokes,” she told this scribe.

Hira Ali says she wants to blend the traditional styles of Mughal studio with contemporary lacquer art and digital media

She said that art had always been a profound means of expression for her, a way to connect the past with the present and to communicate across cultural and temporal boundaries.

She said that the year 2023-2024 had been particularly momentous in her artistic journey marked by significant achievements, enriching experiences and nurturing of a vision that sought to bridge traditional art forms with contemporary techniques.

The artist received Honorary Credentials at 14th International Exhibition of Traditional Fine Arts held at National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai, China, in June 2024. The event, she said, was organised under the flag of Shanghai Art Collection Museum, Shanghai Art and Design Academy, and Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Centre that brought together more than 120 artists from 31 countries.

She said that the exhibition was a testament to the vitality of traditional arts and their innovative amalgamation with modern concepts.

It highlighted the mutual integration of tradition and modernity, showcasing the dynamic vigour of cultural heritage in a global context.

In December 2023, the artist was honoured with the Academic Excellence Award for the year 2022- 2023 by Shanghai University (SHU). The recognition by SHU underscored her dedication and commitment to academic and artistic excellence.

As a member of the winning team in the Unesco Global Short Video Contest on the theme of ‘Youth and world heritage’, the young artist and two of her students -- Mujibur Rahim and Amarrah -- had the opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Gandhara civilisation.

“Our documentary, which secured the first position, focused on the Buddhist ruins of Takht Bahi and the neighbouring city remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol in Pakistan. The documentary was not just a creative endeavour but a great homage to the beauty of Gandhara art and history. Teams from 15 countries including the US, China, Russia and Mexico were shortlisted,” said Ms Ali.

She said that the award ceremony, held during the 6th annual meeting of Global Youth Dialogue in Beijing, China, provided a platform to them to share their vision with a global audience. She said that winning Mural Painting Contest at the US Consulate General in Peshawar, Pakistan, in May 2023, and securing the first position in a painting competition was organised by College of International Education at SHU, Shanghai, China, November 2023, were milestones that reinforced her belief in the power of arts to transcend boundaries.

“I have also been privileged to participate as an eminent speaker and session co-chairperson in international webinar on ‘Socio-cultural, archaeological, natural, geo heritage sites, monuments and museums: identification, conservation, management” organised by National Academy of Sciences, India,” she said.

Ms Ali said that her role as lead speaker in international webinar on ‘Various dimensions of Indian knowledge tradition’, organised under the auspices of department of higher education, Bhopal, allowed her to discuss the significant contributions of female miniature artists of Mughal studio.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2024