In my community, parents often have specific expectations for their children’s careers, typically leaning towards professions like medicine or engineering. Straying from these paths can lead to ridicule and criticism. If you talk about fine arts, they’re gonna kill you. No, they won’t. Just kidding!
I often wonder why we can’t have more autonomy in choosing our professions. We can’t choose our name, our family, or our ethnicity, but shouldn’t we have the freedom to choose our careers? After all, we only have one life, and it seems wasteful to spend it solely to please others.
Deciding to pursue fine arts and become an artist was a tough choice for me. Many people dismissed it as foolish and warned that I was ruining my future. They suggested I study engineering instead and pursue art as a hobby. But I was determined to prove them wrong. So, I made the bold decision to leave the engineering university and enroll in one of Pakistan’s best art schools — a feat that’s notoriously difficult to achieve.
When I found out I was accepted into the art university on my first attempt, I was filled with happiness. However, I couldn’t fully celebrate because those who knew about my departure from engineering were mocking me. Despite their taunts, I was driven by a strong desire to prove myself and show that artists can excel just as much as engineers and doctors.
In my first year at art school, I embarked on a journey of learning and growth. I delved into new skills, including the art of sculpting. Each day brought new challenges and opportunities for self-discovery.
I recall the excitement of my first day sculpting. It felt like being a child playing with clay again. I vividly remember my teacher approaching me, and I eagerly asked,
“How do people sculpt?”
His response was simple yet profound. “You have never sculpted before?” he inquired.
“Never, sir,” was my enthusiastic reply.
With a smile, he took a small piece of clay in his hand and began teaching me, much like a teacher guiding a toddler through the ABCs. That initial lesson marked my introduction to sculpting, and as time went on, I absorbed so much knowledge that I eventually became capable of sculpting a human figure. He recently passed away. He was a great teacher, and I’ll never forget his teaching.
After my first year, I gained considerable knowledge about art and advanced to the second year, where I had the chance to explore four major areas of fine arts: painting, miniature painting, sculpting, and printmaking. Eventually, I would have to choose one major to specialize in.
In my third year, I saw my engineering friends graduate, and it made me sad because I thought I could have been graduating too if I hadn’t switched to art. But I calmed myself down and focused on painting, which I chose as my major. I love painting, especially using oil paints, but I also enjoy acrylics, watercolors, and poster colors. During my third year, I created lots of paintings, some of them quite big. I felt like I was doing well and getting closer to graduation. As I entered my fourth and final year, I knew it would be a big year because of the thesis.
While I was studying at the art university, I also started selling my artworks online on various websites. I was able to earn a decent amount of money this way. Meanwhile, many of my engineering friends were struggling to find jobs. They would often tell me that I had made a wise decision by pursuing art. Interestingly, some of them even asked me to teach them how to draw and paint so they could also earn money through art.
The thesis year was both enjoyable and challenging. Unlike other university thesis projects, completing a fine art thesis was particularly difficult. Every second week, we had a jury where we discussed our artwork and our progress. Sometimes, they would ask what seemed like silly or irrelevant questions about our art, questioning our choices and suggesting we work on something else. It could be frustrating, as we felt deeply connected to our work and believed in its significance.
As I reflect on my journey, I often encounter confusion surrounding the concept of fine arts. Many people believe that artwork is simply what looks visually appealing or consists of drawing portraits. While that certainly falls under the umbrella of art, there’s more to it than meets the eye. What distinguishes an artist from a street painter is the underlying idea behind their work.
Street painters may produce visually stunning portraits, but often lack a deeper concept or narrative in their artwork. They paint what they see without delving into the meaning or story behind it. While aesthetically pleasing, such artwork may be considered merely decorative.
True art, in my opinion, should not only be visually appealing but also convey a meaningful idea or message. It can take various forms — a single line on a canvas, for instance, can be considered artwork if it carries a thought-provoking concept.
Consider the example of the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and his artwork known as “Comedian,” who famously affixed a banana to a wall with duct tape and called it an artwork, now valued at millions of dollars. When I shared this with my 11-year-old niece, she said:
“I can do this too.’’
And humorously replicated the act at home with a banana and duct tape. However, I explained to her that while she had recreated the physical piece, the true value lies in the idea behind it. No matter where or when a banana is stuck to a wall, it remains the artwork of Maurizio and will be called “Comedian” because it was his original concept that captured attention and sparked conversation.
In essence, it’s the idea that sells in the art world. Regardless of the medium or technique used, it’s the creativity, innovation, and thoughtfulness behind the artwork that truly distinguishes it as art.
Another misconception about fine artists is that we spend all our time drawing and painting without any academic study. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In addition to honing our artistic skills, we also engage in rigorous academic coursework. We have classes on art history, cultural studies, and attend art seminars. Moreover, we take exams and write papers, just like students in any other field of study.
When I visited my hometown, I mentioned to someone that I had an exam coming up, and his response was surprising.
He asked,
“What kind of exam? Will you play the guitar or paint in front of a teacher?”
It’s disheartening when people assume that our exams consist of playing the guitar or painting in front of a teacher. This lack of understanding demonstrates the misinformation that exists about the academic rigor of fine arts education.
During the thesis year, the initial challenge for me was to determine which idea to pursue. I had numerous ideas swirling around in my mind, causing confusion as to which one to focus on. One day, I would be set on a particular idea, only to find it uninspiring the next day. After much brainstorming and contemplation, I eventually settled on an idea and began the process of bringing it to life.
During this time, I would discuss my ideas with various teachers, seeking their input and feedback. As the year progressed, everyone became incredibly busy, and our university hours extended from 9 am to 4 pm to 9 am to 9 pm. Once everyone had left for the day, the university took on an eerie atmosphere. Around 40 students would remain on campus, and we often found ourselves scaring each other for fun. With different art spaces to work in, there were moments when we felt apprehensive about going to the washroom alone. However, these experiences also fostered a sense of camaraderie among us. We would often have dinner at the university, creating lasting memories that we would always cherish.
The day finally arrived when tomorrow would be our final jury. External jurors were scheduled to visit, and we would have to discuss our creations. It was a mix of emotions — happiness and nervousness. We busied ourselves with setting up our work, with the assistance of teachers and woodworkers. In the midst of it all, I accidentally cut my finger, causing quite a bit of pain. During the jury, the jurors even inquired about my injured finger.
On the day of the thesis presentation, I woke up early, took a shower, put on new clothes, and got ready for the jury. Arriving at the university early in the morning, I waited for my turn anxiously. When it finally came, I spoke about my artwork, and the response from the jurors was overwhelmingly positive. One of the juniors even expressed interest in purchasing one of my paintings. It was a rewarding culmination to all the hard work and effort put into my thesis.
The jury went incredibly well, lasting about 40 minutes, and I received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Leaving my studio, I was very happy. Several people congratulated me, and I couldn’t wait to share the news with my mom. When I told her that I had finally graduated, she was so happy, and her happiness brought tears to my eyes. It was a moment of pure bliss, knowing that all the struggles had finally paid off.
At the successful exhibition, three of my paintings were sold, which was a fantastic achievement. Additionally, I was approached by a curator who offered me an opportunity for another exhibition. I felt grateful and blessed, and I thanked the higher power for all the blessings bestowed upon me.
And that’s how my challenging journey came to an end. And while there’s still a long road ahead to achieve even greater success, reaching this milestone was a significant step forward in my journey.
Thank you for reading my story of struggle. Check out my other blogs for more interesting stories.
Understanding Stories Written on the Canvas of Our Bodies