PESHAWAR: Noted artist Mohammad Ahsanzeb has received cultural exchange award during an international art contest in China. His award winning design beautifully blends Islamic art and the vibrant colourful motif of Pakistani truck art.

A resident of Mardan, Ahsanzeb is presently pursuing his decorate studies at Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University.

He is also a faculty member of School of Design, Art and Architecture Technologies at Pak -Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, University of Haripur.

He told this scribe that most artworks in the contest were digital. He said that the truck art design was selected for folk gifts innovative design category. He termed his victory a source of inspiration for other visual design artists working with industries.

The second international Shanghai fashion season design award ceremony was organised under the auspices of Shanghai Fashion Accessories Society in collaboration with Shanghai Service Industries Development and Research Foundation. The awards were given to the best artists in several categories.

As part of the contest, Mr Zeb’s truck art design was printed on various fashion items such as socks, scarves, hats and packaging boxes. The award-winning entries would be formally showcased at an exhibition to be held at the end of September, he said.

The artist caught up with this scribe in Peshawar during a family visit and spoke about his recent award-winning development and future plans. He said that around 270 international designers from 35 universities and 59 countries had registered to participate in the contest.

Art pieces of about 45 best designers from 25 universities across 23 countries were shortlisted for the folk gift design category.

Mr Zeb said that he always drew inspiration from his rich cultural heritage, captivated by colours and the intricate natural patterns prevalent in Pakistani cultural landscape. The fascination, he said, further fueled his creative purists resulting in visually and culturally resonant designs.

“Each of my art pieces reflects the beauty and uniqueness of our country’s artistic tapestry, showcasing a blend of tradition and contemporary aesthetics,” he claimed.

The artist said that the main objective of the contest was to highlight global exchange of cultural ideas and the rich diversity of artistic expressions.

He said that his artworks exemplifies that how traditional art could be reimagined for contemporary fashion.

Regarding his future plans, Mr Zeb said that he wanted to celebrate and preserve the essence of Pakistan’s cultural heritage by fusion with modern appeal market trend. He maintained the artworks of Pakistani artists were perceived as treasure trove of diverse cultures.

“After completion of my doctorate thesis in China, I would impart my artistic knowledge to budding artists to motivate them to market their innovative ideas through digital technology,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2024