Art+Fusion: Mumtaz’s Creative Journey
Mumtaz Hussain’s work is characterized by a unique fusion of styles and influences. His art incorporates elements from his native Pakistan as well as his life in New York. His work is a blend of European and American influences and seeks to reflect a new culture that struggles with and exalts visually rich and beautiful ancient art. Hussain’s work spans centuries of evolution, from ancient archaeology to traditional South Asian calligraphy to modern mixed media, drawing inspiration from artistic traditions of his homeland, Cubism, Impressionism, and a synthesis of European and American modernism in general. His recent paintings engage with language and history, contrasting the relationship of hieroglyphs and ancient sculpture with the calligraphic Modern Mystic series that invoked the Islamic tradition of poetry as visual expression.
Born and educated in Jhang, the center of Sufi culture in Pakistan, Hussain’s early artistic education was inspired by the medieval Indian figurative artistic tradition. He accepted admission into the prestigious National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan’s premier art school, in 1981. Upon graduation, Hussain was commissioned to construct a seventy-foot mural in Lahore’s town center and to decorate the Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan Palace, an architectural landmark in Karachi.
In 1987, Hussain left for London to study European art forms. He later moved to New York to pursue graphic design at the School of Visual Art, where he studied figure drawing and painting at the Art Students League of New York. This experience furthered his inspiration from Cubism and Impressionism.
Hussain moved to New York City because it welcomes cultural expression from a wide range of artistic traditions and cultures, symbolizing the essential and potential unity of all humankind. This quest to express unity in his artistic works, derived from the fusion of multiple customs and sources of inspiration, is appreciated and encouraged by mentors and friends in the New York artistic community.
In addition to his devotion to the fine arts, Hussain has also served as Art Director for Simon & Schuster, one of the leading U.S. publishing houses, and worked as a graphic designer or art director on accounts including Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. His artworks have been featured regularly at the LRBT art auction in New York, consistently fetching the highest bids.
As for his writings, Hussain has published an Urdu book of short stories, "Gool Ainak Ka Pechay" and "Lafzon Main Tasvarian". He has also been involved in filmmaking. His first feature film, "Art=(Love)²", received several awards and recognitions, including a Merit Award at The Lucerne International Film Festival, Switzerland; Best Cinematography at The Jaipur International Film Festival, India; Platinum Reel Award at The Nevada Film Festival, U.S.A.; Gold Award at the Prestige Film Festival, U.S.A. The film was also officially selected at The Delhi International Film Festival, India; and The Vegas Cine Fest, U.S.A. Other films he has worked on include "This is my Pakistan" for a Pakistani TV Channel GEO, "Inside You" based on Rumi’s poetry, "Push Button For" based on a Pakistani classic short story, and "Butterfly Screams" based on 9/11.
