Syed Nasiruddin continues legacy of Hyderabad's inlay art

Story by  ATV | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 2 Years ago
Syed
Syed

 

Mohd Akram/Hyderabad

Syed Nasiruddin Viquar’s art of carving impressions in wood and embed materials into these cavities to create fascinating pieces of art had started as a hobby. Today, after 13 years, he has some 2,000 plus creations mostly of Islamic monuments and several national awards to his credit.

He says, “I did not learn this work anyone; it started as a hobby, said the 74-year old artist.

It takes him several weeks to prepare a piece of art. He uses different sculpting techniques and inserting wood pieces into a contrasting wood. The pieces of wood embedded in the carved cavity are pasted with a special glue and thereafter the art work is kept aside for 3 to 4 days. Different chemicals are used to highlight or underplay some surfaces to create textures. On an average an artwork is completed in a month with an average work of 4-5 hours per day.

Viquar’s artwork was exhibited both at National and International art galleries. He recently represented to the Deputy CM, Mohammad Mahmood Ali to set up an Islamic Art Gallery, where struggling artists can get recognition in this genre."

Viquar has started teaching this art to others. He says, “I started this art in Hyderabad during school holidays among girls as a hobby class. Apart from school girls, boys and girls from outside also come, now Till now 200 girls have learned the art of inlay work from me. Many of them are making good money in Dubai, UN, Germany etc,” he told in an interview.

The 74-year resident’s art works include the grand mosques of Mecca, Medina, Masjid-e-Nabi monuments like Golconda Fort, Taj Mahal, Red Fort etc. The artwork starts from a small size of 12x18 inch size to a bigger size. He uses instruments like piercing saws, wood cutter, micro saw, glue, shining spray and different types of wood to provide different shades in inlay work.

His works are mainly about Islamic monuments comes from his 50-year research while he was working with the United Nations in Kenya and later at Shah Faisal Library in Saudi Arabia for nearly 30 years.

Viquar says the inlay art was promoted in India by Tipu Sultan, the Sultan of Mysore. He started it by inviting the artisans from abroad. For this reason, this art flourished in Hyderabad.

Besides several awards he had received for his artwork, his research work on Islamic history From Adam to Muhammad won his Rajiv Gandhi Shiromani award, 2007.

His art works are displayed in several National and international art galleries.

He says, “I intend to buy a plot and  create a place where artists from Hyderabad can get together at one platform."

At the same time, he appealed to the leaders of organizations working in Hyderabad to organize an Islamic exhibition.

He has made representations to the State government asking him to set up an Islamic Art Gallery, where struggling artists can get recognition in this genre.