Latest Publication by SADEQUAIN Foundation USA
SADEQUAIN Foundation USA has announced the publication of its new book titled From the Sketchbook of SADEQUAIN. According to a press release, the primary focus of this 260-page book is a collection of fifty black and white drawings in pen and ink. These drawings were done as studies for the final set of drawings which Sadequain made to interpret his quatrains published in his book titled Rubaiyyat-e-Sadequain Naqqash.
This book is a new link in the chain of continuing efforts by SADEQUAIN Foundation. The Foundation, founded in 2007 in San Diego, California, has done exhaustive search for the widely scattered artworks of Sadequain, which he, in most cases, carelessly gave away to mostly undeserving individuals and institutions, mistakenly thinking that they will make efforts to preserve his legacy. He could not be more wrong.
In technical terms the drawings in this book display the unity of disciplines of drawing, calligraphy as well as the traditions of Urdu and Persian poetry which Sadequain shared to his core. Most importantly, the drawings in this book show how Sadequain’s lines, whether complex or simple, performed magically with the complexity of a well-orchestrated symphony; they represent poetry of color, harmony of rhythm, and the power of a tempest.
It is hoped that this book will be helpful in analyzing the imagery in Sadequain’s drawings and establishing the links to appropriate historical and cultural context. Its empirical research and textual contents are balanced to address the sensitivities that attempt to compare and contrast arbitrary and loaded concepts.
In his lifetime Sadequain was recognized and praised by the media on all five continents. Not many Pakistanis can make this claim. French newspaper Le Monde quoted “Sadequain’s multiplicity is reminiscent of Picasso.” UAE newspaper Khaleej Times declared him responsible for the “renaissance of calligraphic art.”
In his lifetime Sadequain was a celebrity and a household name in Pakistan. He is perhaps the only Individual who was recognized by the Pakistan government by establishing three institutions named Galerie Sadequain in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Not many Pakistanis can make this claim. He was bestowed with national and international awards, but he did not bother to receive them in person. To him, awards were irrelevant.
Sadequain gave more to the nation than any man or woman. But within a few years after he passed away, his name faded from the collective memory of the nation. He should have been the face of the nation recognized around the globe, but sadly, he became a stranger in his own country; an unsung hero.
Alarmed and dismayed by the dire situation, SADEQUAIN Foundation was established in May 2007 in San Diego California with the stated goals of discovering, preserving, and promoting Sadequain around the globe. The Foundation executed exhaustive search to locate thousands of pieces of Sadequain’s artworks in places as far flung as Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Middle East, Austria, Switzerland, France, England, USA, Canada, and more.
At the time this book was published, SADEQUAIN Foundation had previously published 19 books on Sadequain’s life and various aspects of his work. The book titled The Saga of SADEQUAIN is the largest book on the subject of art ever published in Pakistan. It has also been recommended by Pakistan Foreign Office to all its embassies around the world. The book titled The Legend of SADEQUAIN is a representation of SADEQUAIN’s innovative calligraphic style called Khatt-e- SADEQUAINI. The book titled Lines and Drawings II is the largest collection of drawings ever published in Pakistan. In short, the Foundation has produced more literature on Sadequain than any other entity.
The Foundation has hosted more than 50 seminars, book launches, and exhibitions in the USA, Canada, UK, France, Dubai, Pakistan, and India.
In February 2017, the Foundation crossed a major milestone after laboring for six long years of red tape and spending more than $50,000 on repairs of the Frere Hall, donating more than 50 pieces of artworks representing a wide range of SADEQUAIN’s palette and establishing Galerie SADEQUAIN at Frere Hall. This is the only location in Pakistan where general public has unrestricted access to SADEQUAIN’s artworks.
For information please contact:
Dr Salman Ahmad, SADEQUAIN Foundation, 9415 Maler Road, San Diego, CA 92129, USA - sahmad1@san.rr.com , sadequainfoundation@gmail.com ,
www.sadequainfoundation.com , (858) 538-1574 – office, (858) 335-4139 - SADEQUAIN Foundation Gallery.
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