RAWALPINDI: A two-day painting exhibition titled ‘Beautiful Pakistan’ that showcases the work of senior artist Misbahuddin Qazi kicked off at the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) on Friday.

The exhibition was inaugurated by MPAs Tehseen Fawad and Lubna Rehan Pirzada, and attended by a number of art enthusiasts.

The exhibition featured 66 works that depicted Pakistan’s natural beauty. Mr Qazi’s work included paintings of the scenic beauty of Rawalpindi and Islamabad from the Margalla Hills to the rural outskirts of the twin cities.

The artist used oil paint on canvas to capture the various shades of green in the fields, trees and grass at different times of day. One of his works featured a depiction of a cage and birds, to symbolise the importance of independence.

Mr Qazi began his career in 1963, after he earned a Masters degree from Punjab University. He told Dawn he completed all the paintings displayed in the exhibition in various parts of the country, including Gilgit, Skardu and the twin cities.

“I did not do the work on canvas at home. I tried to capture the beauty of nature with all its colours and life.”

He said: “Although I have worked in pen and ink to make sketches and portraits, landscapes are my passion.”

“I made a portrait of Madar-i-Millat Fatima Jinnah after the 1965 elections against Ayub Khan, and presented it to her in Karachi. I also made cartoons in the Urdu newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt, called ‘Qazi Ke Jhootay Khakay’ for five years, before joining the Pakistan National Council of Arts and retiring in 2006,” he said.

“This is my 30th solo painting exhibition, and I participated in over 100 group exhibitions in the country and abroad,” he added.

The artist has also worked in woodcut prints and pen and ink. An exhibition of his new work will be held at the National College of Arts in Lahore at the end of August.

At the exhibition, Ms Fawad lauded Mr Qazi for highlighting the beauty of the country, while Ms Pirzada appreciated the artist’s work on independence and his presentation of birds as a symbol of a free soul.

RAC Resident Director Waqar Ahmed called Mr Qazi an asset to the country, and said he depicted the outskirts of the twin cities beautifully.

“The exhibition offers an opportunity to see the country’s scenic charm, beautiful valleys, green farms and multiple sides of the weather,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2016