Muzaffar Ali to Present His Works in ‘Faras Nama‘

Artist and filmmaker Muzaffar Ali is set to present his work in his newest exhibition at Bikaner House’s CCA building. It will celebrate his sketches over four decades, and a new set of canvases and bronzes on his favorite subject – the horse. Muzaffar’s art is an organic, rare blend of cinema and painting. The former scales the cinematic terrain of films and the latter explores the tactile zone – painting art. The exhibition, titled ‘Faras Nama‘ will run from 19th October 2024 to 28th October 2024.

Muzaffar Ali is a Sufi in his art as well as his belief in the universal ethos of nature and man. Curated by art historian and scholar Uma Nair, the exhibition is split into thematic considerations establishing the symbiotic connection of the left and right hemisphere of his mind. It begins with sketches of horses as well as a series of sketches on Rumi, his favourite muse, as a preparation of a feature film, transcending into portraits of Zooni, a legend from Kashmir, which lingers like an unfinished poem in the artist’s mind.

Artist Muzaffar Ali eloquently expresses his deep connection with horses, “Horses embody a universal language of peace, beauty, and love. When a horse transitions from a brushstroke into color and form, it becomes an eternal truth, transforming painting into a healing, meditative art. To me, a horse is a darvesh in equine form, capturing timelessness and poetry in every stroke. As my horses evolved from canvas to bronze, I was drawn into metalwork, creating a collection I named ‘Barak’ after my horse. This limited edition is something I wish to share with art and horse lovers worldwide.” 

The Division of Exhibition

The show will be designed by Meera Ali, architect and designer in collaboration with Uma Nair. Each room at the venue will be designated as a ‘Maqaam’, a station in life, presenting a unique aesthetic as one moves from Maqaam to Maqaam. The exhibition is divided into four parts. They include.

Zooni Portraits

The Zooni portraits occupy a small but important section that present a nostalgic reflection on a film he could not complete in Kashmir starring Dimple Kapadia. An optimist as he is, Muzaffar dreams of bringing this to fruition with a suspenseful and nostalgic twist! His accompanying detailed sketches of the character, architecture and lifestyle form the prologue to the four feminine portraits on canvas inspired by the poetry of the film through the moods of Zooni and the four seasons of the valley. Interestingly it is the cinematic essence captured on specially designed frames by Muzaffar himself at his Kotwara Studios residence in Gurugram that adds a unique flavour of mystique. 

Equus

Muzaffar’s larger series in the show are his paintings featuring horses that show his inherent passion for the film language of moving images; his love for these sentient beings and his admiration for what they stand of – a symbol of freedom and universalism. India’s indigenous horse, a blend of strains from all over the world, are a unique testimony to the steed. From Central Asia, Arab, the Kathiawar and Marwar regions to Deccani, Sikang and Sindhi, Muzaffar’s horse emerges as being which knows no barriers. 

“All the horses I have sketched and painted belong to the Indian sub-continent adding soul to landscapes”, says Muzaffar Ali. “I have always loved their free spirit and their inherent traits of love and loyalty.” 

Several of Muzaffar’s large canvases celebrate the equine figure as a representation of courage, valour and vitality. Painted against pale backgrounds, the stallions and mares stand against abstract forms of landscape, evocative of the unknown yet spirited. Muzaffar approximates the simplicity of the horse, painting them in varying moods symbolizing the beauty of living, of the courageous and the eventual triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Each painting is a fragment of a horse story that he weaves out of his own imagination.

Sculptures

Muzaffar’s passion for horses spans across mediums as he presents his bronzes for the first time. Drawing inspiration from his masterpiece painting, ‘Hoshruba’, each horse acquires a third dimension – depicting horses in fury, in conversation, bowing in submission as they try to reach out for the sky. A bas-relief emerges from his canvases, a dynamic and tactile combination of cerebral horses.. These bronzes capture a panoramic view of horses in harmonious motion. The exhibit also includes a series of intimate horse sculptures cast as buckles accompanied by leather belts etched with galloping steeds in a landscape sketched by Muzaffar. 

Calligraphy

Amongst his works, particularly arresting are a set of newly calibrated calligraphy studies that create a sense of play of formlessness and collage-like incantations. These calligraphic intonations have a certain suffusion of softness and the lyrical cadences of a prayer. 

Curator Uma Nair, who has dedicated more than 25 years to following Muzaffar Ali’s artistic journey, describes this exhibition as a deep and immersive exploration of his multifaceted creativity. She emphasizes that visitors will not only witness Muzaffar Ali’s lifelong dedication to painting but also gain insight into his unique approach to filmmaking. In his acclaimed films like ‘Umrao Jaan’and ‘Gaman,’ Muzzafar Ali meticulously sketched detailed storyboards, capturing every scene with a masterful blend of landscape, architecture, and emotion, brought to life through color, pain, and the evocative power of music. I hope to take the Muzaffar Ali show to Kolkata and other cities along with some of his older works.”

Uma Nair sees this exhibition as a testament to Muzzafar Ali’s love for the earth and his portrayal of humanity as gentle and soulful. Through the curation of the show, she invites art lovers to delve into the many dimensions of Muzaffar Ali, encouraging them to discover new facets of his work and walk away not only with a deeper appreciation for his artistry but also feeling animated, refreshed, and inspired by the experience. 

Image: Oil on canvas, Series: Farasnama, Legend of the Horse, 12 inch x 8 inch, 2024 Courtesy – Muzaffar Ali

An inspiration for generations of artists, sculptor and teacher Krishna Chhatpar passes away