Explore the techniques and imagery of Indian painting and enter the jewel-like world of the Mughal school, famous for its stylized naturalism and mastery of line, in this intensive three-day workshop. Led by traditionally trained artist and art historian Murad Khan Mumtaz, the workshop introduces participants to the materials and techniques of this art form, including paper and pigment preparation as well as the basics of traditional drawing and painting techniques. The workshop focuses on the siyah qalam brush and ink rendering technique, the backbone of the more advanced application techniques neemrang and gadrang. Participants will have the opportunity to practice copying from original works on view in the Freer|Sackler, allowing for hands-on study of Indian painting practice alongside historical examples.
Murad Khan Mumtaz is a Pakistani artist trained in the traditional art of Indian painting. As small acts of remembrance, his paintings meditate on traces of traditional culture that are disappearing in the materialistic landscape of contemporary life. A native of Lahore, Pakistan, Mumtaz was educated at Pakistan’s National College of Arts and at Columbia University in New York City, which he attended on a Fulbright fellowship. An accomplished teacher, Mumtaz has taught at institutions including the National College of Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Punjab University, and the College of Traditional Islamic Art in Amman, Jordan. His artwork has been exhibited internationally. He is a cofounder of the Hast-o-Neest Center for Traditional Art and Culture in Lahore and has published numerous articles on the history of miniature painting. He is currently working toward a PhD in South Asian art history at the University of Virginia. He divides his time between Charlottesville, Virginia, and Lahore.