- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP):The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) inaugurated “Quranic Calligraphy and Paintings,” a solo exhibition by artist Yusuf Khan, at the National Art Gallery on Thursday, showcasing a unique fusion of Islamic spirituality and social commentary.
The exhibition was officially opened by Mr. Fuad Pashayev, UNESCO Representative to Pakistan, alongside Ms. Farah Naz, Parliamentary Secretary for the National Heritage and Culture Division, and Ayoub Jamali, Director General of PNCA.
The ceremony drew diplomats, artists, and members of the cultural and academic community.
Featuring over forty works, the exhibition presents Quranic calligraphy rendered in contemporary Kufic script alongside monochrome portraits of everyday Pakistanis. Khan’s calligraphic pieces highlight Quranic verses centered on truth, justice, kindness, and integrity, while his portraits honor cobblers, artisans, and rural women whose perseverance shapes daily life across Pakistan.
“This exhibition bridges spirituality with social ethics,” Mr. Pashayev remarked in his keynote address. “Yusuf Khan’s art reminds us that beauty and ethics are intertwined—his use of calligraphy is not ornamental but focused on social behavior and universal principles, rooted in human compassion and integrity.”
PNCA Director General Muhammad Ayoub Jamali praised Khan’s artistic journey from public service to creative expression. “His calligraphic compositions present Quranic values of honesty and generosity with minimalist clarity, while his portraits celebrate the resilience of ordinary Pakistanis,” Jamali said.
Khan, displaying his work publicly for the first time, described his paintings as “meditations on the values that guide us.” He added, “The faces I paint are reminders of the resilience and quiet dignity of the people I witnessed across Pakistan during my years in public service.”
The exhibition runs through December 19, 2025, at Gallery No. 6, PNCA, National Art Gallery, Islamabad, and is open to the public.