At the time, when he was beginning to gain recognition through group shows in Karachi and Islamabad, Sattar Tahir’s life was tragically cut short by sudden heart failure in March 1999, in Karachi. Thus, his “first and last solo exhibition” organized posthumously in 2008 served as a homage to his talent and legacy. Today in 2024, we remember him once again through this article, ensuring that his contributions to the Pakistani art are not forgotten and introduced to the new generation of artists.
The First and Last Solo Exhibition of Sattar Tahir – A Graduate of Punjab University by Dr. Arjumand Faisel
“The first and last solo exhibition of Abdul Sattar Tahir” took place at Gallery Islamabad in September 2008. The intriguing circulation of the news … “The first and last solo”, sparked curiosity among art enthusiasts, prompting them to question why it was labeled as such. The revelation that Sattar Tahir had passed away at a young age added sentiments to the occasion, as the unsung artist was honored through the display of his acquired thirty-three paintings.
Born in 1950 in Okara, Sattar Tahir’s simple yet vibrant strokes brought to life scenes of real life in various tones and hues until his sudden death in 1999. He earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in design from the University of Punjab in 1971 and immediately joined the Pakistan Design Institute, Karachi, in 1972. Despite his hectic official role involving creative designing for Pakistani export products, he continued to pursue his passion … painting in watercolors.
Sattar Tahir’s art serves as an evidence to the beauty he observed in architectural structures, natural landscapes, and the lives of ordinary people around him. He enjoyed to paint on location and could often be found on the streets of Karachi capturing the essence of British-era buildings.
He travelled to Thar to capture and portray the daily life of its inhabitants, immersing himself in their environment for weeks to understand their emotions and surroundings. The green spaces of Islamabad also became a focus during his visits to his eldest brother, the renowned landscape painter Ghulam Rasool.
Sattar Tahir’s art prompts us to recognize the beauty in the simplicity of everyday life, often overlooked. His work exudes a sense of freedom and expansiveness, evoking a feeling of open space. With soft tones and hues, his paintings breathe life into the scenes they portray, capturing their essence. It appears his aim is to immortalize moments of joy he experienced, sharing them with others through a delicate yet profound use of color. He skillfully captures the interplay of shadows and lights, infusing his compositions with strength and serenity.
