LAHORE - A solo painting show of a renowned artist Muhammad Javed has opened at Zahoorul Akhlaq Gallery, National College of Arts.

The event also included launching of a book ‘A Man of the Arts - Muhammad Javed’, encompassing the work and life of the artist covering more than fifty years period. The book is edited by Dr Shaukat Mahmood.

Punjab University VC Dr Mujahid Kamran inaugurated the exhibition and chaired the book launching ceremony. Prof Dr Shaukat Mahmood, Prof Dr Murtaza Jafri, Lt Gen (r) Khalid Latif Mughal, Dr Aijaz Anwar, Prof Dr Rahat Naveed Masood and Ikram Chughtai spoke on the work and contribution of Muhammad Javed in the field of arts.

Introducing the artist, NCA Principal Prof Dr Murtaza Jafri said that Javed being a first batch graduate of NCA in 1958 from renowned Mayo School of Artist met with several new challenges.

At that time, Prof Jafri said, only the most suitable students were selected to lay the strong foundation of the college. “The first batch made the history and so Muhammad Javed, who has studied under supervision of Prof Shakir Ali. His work is a milestone for the NCA students and new generation,” he added.

Muhammad Javed is a recipient of First Annual Distinguished Artist Award from MIT, USA, in 1989 and has six solo shows at his credit held in country and abroad. Recently a book “Relevance in the Art: Fine Art Masters of 21st Century” by K Heinz Player has been published in German Language in Austria, in which thirty nine artists have been covered and Muhammad Javed is one of them from Pakistan.

Different speakers, addressing the ceremony, said that Javed’s style of expression is distinctive and intriguing. He has captured and painted social and cultural issues including other subjects in beautiful manner, they said.

About thirty three oil paintings, eight calligraphic paintings and six charcoal drawings of Muhammad Javed are hung on the walls of Zahoorul Akhlaq Gallery.

A large number of people, artists, art lovers, students include Saeed Akhtar, Ghulam Mustafa, Dr Aijaz Anwar, Javed Iqbal, Nadeem Alam, Bashir Ahmad were present on the occasion. The exhibition will continue till October 27.