By. Dr. Arjumand Faisel

In the art world, there are a few examples of joint artworks created by artists such as Jake and Dinos Chapman, Komar and Melamid and Drew Beattie and Daniel Davidson. Additionally, David Humphrey, Elliot Green, and Amy Sillman have painted together since 1996 under the collective name Team SHaG, regularly exhibiting their collaborative works.

Another notable example of collaborative painting is found in the partnership between American artists Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat during the 1980s. Although they created numerous paintings together, they did not hold an exhibition of their joint work. Typically, Warhol would begin the process by painting, allowing Basquiat to layer over his work. Warhol and Basquiat also engaged in a three-way collaboration with Italian artist Francesco Clemente, facilitated by European art dealer Bruno Bischofberger.

In our country and the region, two well-established artists made history by hosting the first-ever “Joint-Solo Exhibition” on January 23, 2015. The artists who paved the way for this landmark event were the then 85-year-old Tassaduq Sohail and the 52-year-old Riaz Rafi. Both artists were based in Karachi and collaborated to create 24 paintings for the exhibition titled “Inimitable Consilience,” which took place at Gallery 6.

A strong bond of friendship had flourished between Sohail and Rafi for over three decades prior to the exhibition. The idea of collaborating came about when Sohail playfully doodled with a black permanent marker on a catalogue of Rafi’s exhibition and jokingly showed it to a mutual friend, claiming he had “defaced Rafi’s paintings.” Word quickly reached Rafi, who hurried to see the purported “massacre” of his work, only to be astonished by the result—the outcome was outstanding artworks that were unique yet bore the characteristics of both painters.

Doodling by Sohail on Rafi’s exhibition catalogue

This unexpected outcome not only surprised Rafi but also sparked a new conviction in him that he and Sohail should embark on a venture of painting the same canvases together. The first few paintings were shared with me in early 2014, as the Curator of Gallery 6 Islamabad. I was captivated by their works and promptly offered to host the first “Joint-Solo Show” for these two prominent artists. Before long, their inner souls began to resonate together, and the canvases they painted unleashed the outcome of their visual harmony and collective imagination.

Reflecting on the process during our discussions, Rafi shared, “Though we initiated the work, we didn’t anticipate how challenging it would be. Each painting sparked multiple discussions and debates regarding its evolution and completion. However, due to our deep understanding of each other’s approach, we successfully accomplished the task of creating 24 paintings over a period of 16 months.”

Both artists devised a method to collaborate effectively. Initially, Rafi would create a complete painting in his customary abstract style, which he would then pass on to Sohail. Sohail would meticulously study the painting for hours and days, seeking out hidden images within the abstract and revealing them with paint and outline. The finished artwork would be an agreed harmonious amalgamation, predominantly featuring the bright, vibrant palette of Rafi alongside the symbols and figures of Sohail. This working approach bears resemblance to the method employed by Warhol and Basquiat as well.

Expanding on the exhibition at the time, Sohail articulated that every artist harbors an inherent desire to create something truly distinct. This urge to innovate occupies the artist’s mind continuously, regardless of location or time—even in slumber. For a well-known artist, this drive for uniqueness becomes even more pronounced, as they are perpetually in pursuit of presenting something truly exceptional. This exhibition represents the culmination of that quest for inimitability.

The exhibition not only surprised visitors but also delighted them, as the collaboration between Sohail and Rafi resulted in the creation of some truly brilliant artworks. The images of the paintings accompanying this article serve as a testament to this fact.