The art of calligraphy and the craft of beadwork need no introduction across the globe, but not many are aware of ‘motikaari’ in which traditional art forms are combined to form an entirely new expression.
‘Motikaari’ is a medium for artistic expression through patterns by arranging beads of different textures and hues in the length of adjoining strings.
Nisar Ahmed Malik, a resident of Rawalpindi, could truly be called as the pioneer of this art which he invented due to his urge to do something new and unique in the field of art and has created hundreds of masterpieces till now.
The verses from Holy Qur’aan, portraits of famous personalities, national flags of different countries, historical monuments and places, national monuments, landscapes and what not — whatever he did has been done with full dedication and hard work.
Moreover the excellent sense for the colour combinations and contrasts is also evident in his pieces where beads of hundreds of colours had been used with superb mastery.
“I could survive without food, but not without beads, as they are the treasure of my life. I want to create gigantic art pieces, would that I live for hundred thousand years,” said Malik.
He said that he had innate talent of calligraphy that was revealed to him during school days when every one used to appreciate his handwriting but his good handwriting never quenched his thirst for art so he started thinking about doing something new and creative.
“The idea of using beads in calligraphy suddenly clicked my mind, but I was not aware of the method through which I could materialize my thought,” he said.
Malik said that he pasted the calligraphic piece on hard board ‘adda’ and then started his work. “My family used to say me mad, but when I completed the first piece of ‘motikaari,’ not only my family but neighbours and relatives appreciated it.
He was first introduced to the public with the courtesy of TV programme ‘Nelaam Ghar’ on August 14, 1979, and after that he gained popularity. In 1982, he presented to the then president of Pakistan, the holy names of God Almighty in beadwork as a gift and also presented to ambassadors of different countries their national flags in beadwork.
Being an employee of Radio Pakistan, he continued to create wonders using beads as a habit, but after his retirement in 2001 he has adopted it as a profession. Many solo and group exhibitions had been conducted by him in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Wah Cantt, Peshawar, Gujranawala, Lahore, Sargodha, Multan and Bahawalpur.
He lamented that the government has not taken any practical steps for the promotion of the art, which could provide a source of earning to hundreds of jobless people. “I dedicated my whole life for the promotion of art and taught dozens of people till now,” he said.
Malik said that he would be happy if the teaching classes are conducted on so that more people could learn this art. “I am getting weak and older and I would die peacefully if my invention ‘motikaari’ could reach to maximum number of people,” he said.
He also expressed his disappointment over the negligence of Ministry of Culture who never bothered to take any step for the promotion of this art.
“If the Ministry of Culture would have acted seriously then my name must have entered the Guinness Book of World Records as I am the inventor of this medium,” he said.
