Though her work is seldom seen in exhibition, she is an eminent, honored artist; highly appreciated and the recipient of National Awards. Najmi Sura is one of the leading names in the world of art in Pakistan. She has been painting for the better part of her life, bringing to life the world of Mughal times.
Her journey began as a girl who was inspired by two different schools of art, the traditional art off miniature painting and the unpredictability of abstract art. When the time came where Najmi Sura decided to visit Jamil Naqsh, for his advice. With his guidance and understanding of her inclination towards miniature art, he began to guide and mold her to be the artist she is today.
From the beginning of her journey, she was inspired by the art of historic eras, the art of storytelling through the images on canvas. These were years in which she was more interested in the discovery of the styles and methods and of the practice of her art without thought of arranging exhibitions, and she discovered her signature art in the matchless beauty of the Pahari, Rajput and Mughul Schools of art that that today characterize her work with a modern sensibility.
The artist in her work focuses on enlarging scale and using physiognomic, crisp outlines while keeping the trappings of the Mughal past. While assimilating the brocades, jewelry and profiles of the courtiers of that period, the artist introduces modern elements, incongruous flat planes and clashing shadows to break with tradition. This experimental approach distinguishes Najmi Sura from artists who have painted Mughal subjects in a revivalist rather than modernist style. She is now an eminent artist who is happy to show her work in Karachi; the city of her roots.
In Najmi Sura, we recognize a liberated woman, adept in her practice, and able through her sense of design to elevate these beautiful miniatures onto a large scale which enhances and reinforces the message she wishes to convey. A remarkable achievement, particularly for a woman from a modest background, and where in some parts of the world this artistic endeavor would not be deemed acceptable.
Altogether what one sees here is the work of a painter determined not to separate herself for the cultural tradition that has nurtured her art, but also to establish a relationship with the contemporary circumstances that surround her.
