INTERVIEW AT FINE ARTS' DEPARTMENT PESHAWAR UNIVERSITY

🎨 Tasneem Shahzad: An Artist's Journey from Peshawar to the US
Tasneem Shahzad is a highly respected artist and art educationist whose significant career spans decades and continents. He is well-known for his profound impact on the art scene in Peshawar, Pakistan, During this time, he also conducted numerous workshops and established the Tasneem Art Gallery in the city. Currently, he runs an art studio in the United States, where he continues to impart his extensive knowledge of various art techniques to students.
Inspiration, Education, and Career Path
When asked about his journey and the choice of his career, Mr. Shahzad shared that his primary inspiration came from his father, M.M. Bashir, who was also an artist.
"First of all, my father was an artist (M.M. Bashir). I was an artist just by looking at him, and I wanted to do this work."
Despite his father suggesting he work at his studio, Mr. Shahzad chose a formal academic route, opting instead to enroll in the Fine Arts Department to begin his studies. Following his college education, his commitment to learning earned him a scholarship to Italy, where he received a diploma in Marble Sculpture and Batik Painting at the Scuola dell Marmo.
Artistic Style and Preferred Medium
When discussing the inspiration for his artwork, Mr. Shahzad revealed that his creations are rooted in real-world experiences transformed by his unique artistic vision.
"I like traveling. I take pictures, come back home, and I make it in my own way."
While he works across diverse media, including oil painting, watercolor, lino block, and wood block, he expressed a particular fondness for relief printing.
"I work in different media—oil painting, lino block, wood block, watercolor—but I like wood block and lino block printing."
Teaching Experience in Peshawar and the US
Mr. Shahzad's teaching philosophies have adapted to the needs of his students in different geographical settings.
In Peshawar, Pakistan, his curriculum was structured with separate classes for male and female students, progressing from basic to advanced techniques. Conversely, in his studio in the US, the students who approach him are typically seeking to upgrade and refine their existing skills.
Advocacy for Arts Education
In a powerful statement during the interview, Tasneem Shahzad emphasized the critical role of government support in fostering the arts. He passionately stated that the government should establish more arts institutions, such as colleges and universities, so that a greater number of students can access and learn about the arts, ultimately enriching the cultural landscape.