Infant but intense — Digital Art in Pakistan

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I grew up in a small part of the late '80s right through the '90s. In that era, I remember trying my hand at drawing. I was okay for a child; people looked like people, things looked like other things.

In those days, when visiting my uncle (late), I deeply admired his art collection. He was a globetrotter for 60 of his 83 years and had acquired art from all over the world. Yet, his most prized possession was his nameplate calligraphed in bronze by Sadequain himself. It adorned his gate for a short while before it was stolen.

Until I was much older, I used to wonder what it was about Sadequain that made him such a big deal, or any artist in Pakistan for that matter. Though I now understand the former, the latter is still a debate that arises from time to time.

What makes someone a good artist in Pakistan? Is it their medium, their style, their message, or perhaps their success?

Subjective as success is, its acquisition is the only reason a hobby becomes a lifestyle.

That brings us to digital artists. It is a branch of art, only that it is made on computers. Digital art is simply another medium through which artists express themselves, no different (in essence) from cave paintings. It is, however, the way of the future.



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