When I recently visit the Karachi School of Art I experienced a new world there, a unique language of line, colour, and media through which students interpret their thoughts creating an art world enclosed inside its boundary. The Karachi School of Art (KSA) has made her presence felt in the art education circle soon after its inception in 1964.
Founded by Rabia Zuberi, a well known sculptor, KSA is first private art institution of the country and also the first art centre of its kind in Karachi. As a pioneer in promoting art in the region KSA has produced many eminent artists during its forty six years of serving for art. Lubna Agha, Mashkoor Raza, Abdul Hayee, Ghalib Baqar, Zaheen Ahmed, Tariq Jawaid, Anjum Ayaz, Athar Jamal and Danish Raza are some of the celebrated artists in the contemporary art scenario in Pakistan who belongs to KSA.
The masters of art in the country such as Ahmed Parvez, Sadequain, Zainul Abedin, Bashir Mirza and Ali Imam had long affiliation with KSA. These renowned artists especially Sadequain use to visit the Institute and held discussions with the students. They delivered lectures and critiqued student's work, thus helping to polish their talent.
After completing their art education Rabia Zuberi and her younger sister Hajra Zuberi migrated to Pakistan in 1963. Fresh graduates in sculpture and painting from Art College Lucknow, India, both the sister after their arrival in Karachi dismayed to see that there is no art institute in the city.
It was mid Sixties and Karachi, the largest city of the country, hardly had any institution dedicated to the education of art. Only two Government supported institutions; National College of Art (NCA) and Fine Arts Department of Punjab University were operational in Lahore.
The Zuberi sisters realising the need of an Art school in the city of Karachi decided to found one to provide art education to the middle-class youngsters. Rabia Zuberi establishes a society to sponsor an art school and the Mina Art Education Society was formed with a number of interested board members. Rabia Zuberi was secretary of the society and she chose the extensive, energetic, middle-class residential area, Nazimabad to launch her bold project.
Rabia's determination to make art education affordable and create an environment in which art could flourish resulted in the form of KSA. Hajra was trained as a painter and Rabia as a sculptor from the Lucknow school and therefore were well qualified to impart art education in their school and they did the same. Hajra began teaching water colour painting and miniature while Rabia began to encourage students in using clay and plaster to form sculptures.
Rabia Zuberi succeeded in getting a plot for the school allotted in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. She had no financial resources and had taken a loan. The construction of the school was to take seven years. All finances were generated by the school or from the sale of artworks.
During this period Rabia Zuberi faces many difficulties in keeping the school operational she told me: "In the beginning mob throw stones at our school to shut it down because in those days there was no recognition for art especially sculptures. Many a times people threat us as they thought this single young lady will become frightened and leave this idea of Art education. But I was firm in my aim and did not get bothered with such illiterate people who after seeing my strong stand they back off. And that was my success."
I have known and talked to senior artists who have graduated from KSA and it is quite interesting that each of them praises Rabia Aapa, as she is called by all her students and fined her very helpful especially when any of the student unable to give tuition fee due to financial constraints. She never terminates a student and the students continue their classes without paying fee for more than four months. Instead she smile at students who are attending their class so that they came regularly and do not suffer their studies.
Rabia Zuberi also awarded scholarships to students who were without any means except their talent. The school has a number of excellent teachers and hard working students with clear vision. They are desirous of achieving success in their fields and many of them achieved their goals.
I was impressed and very much like the atmosphere of the KSA, students busy in their work learning techniques and acquiring skills from their teachers. The ambience of values and respect among students and teachers and also student to student relation is commendable.
The students are emphasised to develop the abilities by working practically as well as read widely under the guidance of their teachers. They are also urged to learn, formulate and express their own opinions in the perspective of their professional field.
I inquired about the environment of KSA from Imran Zuberi, Director KSA. He said, "It is quiet difficult to maintain such atmosphere in a co-education institute but we are doing it well till now and hopefully will carry on the same way in future."
KSA is the oldest and largest Art school in Sindh duly recognised by Government of Sindh. The school offers 4 years studies in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Textile Design, Ceramics and 2 Years studies in Computer Graphics. School's fine library and Art Gallery with permanent collection augment educational purpose.
In all departments a variety of training methods is used in combination of major studio sessions, lectures, seminars, group discussions, visit to the art studios/workshops, galleries, museums, industrial centres, audio visual, individual tutorials.
She organised memorable seminars and exhibitions on most significant artists of the country to provide a functional base for the development of art and artistic perspective. The Institute tried to extend the focus of recognition to the equally contributing exponents of art activity such as art critics, curators and gallery owners, through yearly awards, issue of Postage Stamps and other such healthy activities to name a few activities - Truck Art Caravan in 1994, Artist Exchange Program 1995 in Collaboration with Scot-land Transport Museum. The KSA Gallery encourages new experimental art, and hopes to bring forth unique exhibitions. It provides a critical space for artists to exhibit, and for visitors to explore the art on display.
It is also an honour for Karachi School of Art that different National Awards are secured by the artists belonging to KSA on innumerable occasions. Now KSA is affiliated with Karachi University and hopefully Fine Arts will also be included from next year.
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