A Momentous Occasion for Pakistan
An iconic painting by Sadequain, Seascape Three Boats, is on display at the New York Metropolitan Museum (The MET).
The MET is one of the largest museums of art in the world. It has hundreds of thousands of pieces of artworks from around the world in its collection.
The MET has recently selected an iconic painting by Sadequain to go on display in its main gallery. The event marks recognition of Sadequain as a significant member of a select group of painters from the world who deserve representation at The MET. SADEQUAIN Foundation was present on the occasion.
Art and culture are the identity of a nation. By all measures, Sadequain was the finest ambassador of the Pakistan’s identity.
In his lifetime Sadequain was recognized and praised by the media on all five (5) 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 gave more to the nation than any man or woman. 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.
Sadly, within a few years after he passed away in 1987, his name faded from the collective memory of the nation. He should have been the face of the nation recognized around the globe, but ironically, he became a stranger in his own country; an unsung hero.
It can only be termed tragic that soon after the eventful night on February 10, 1987, the three art galleries established by the government in Sadequain’s name in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad were closed.
A few years after Sadequain passed away, his home Sibtain Manzil, which should have been converted into a museum in his name, was usurped, illegally sold, and all proceeds were embezzled. The crime was not investigated.
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.
SADEQUAIN Foundation has published 20 books so far 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 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 reached a major milestone after laboring for 6 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:
Salman Ahmad, PhD
SADEQUAIN Foundation
9415 Maler Road
San Diego, CA 92129
U.S.A.
sahmad1@san.rr.com
sadequainfoundation@gmail.com
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