| Bhai Gian Singh Naqash |
| Written by Administrator | ||||
Page 4 of 4 Gian Singh was a master of free-hand drawing. His pencil kept pace with the abundance of designs and ideas which flowed from his fertile mind as some of his published works like Nikashi Darpan, Vishkarma Darpan, Nikashi Art Sikhhya and Taj-e-zargari, indicate.In the Nikashi Darpan (1924), he has drawn stylised forms of various flowers side by side with their natural forms, showing how the latter could be improved upon for the purpose of adjustment in a design. It also contains line work studies of birds and animals, different limbs and organs of the human body, border designs in rectangular, square, half patterns, allover patterns and vase stands composed of rhythmically intertwined animal, bird and plant forms. The Vishkarma Darpan (1926) is a profusely illustrated manual of decorative, architectural and furniture designs. The Taj-e-Zargari (Vol. 1 1920, and Vol II, 1930) contains 1539 designs of Indian ornaments. The Nikashi Art Sikhya (1942) contains scores of sketches designed to initiate a beginner into the intricacies of drawing. While toiling at larger works, Gian Singh found time for painting easel pictures in which he could freely indulge his humour. Some of his canvases are notable for their originality of conception and workmanship. His painting Types of Irreligious, which illustrates a well-known couplet of Kablr, is a biting satire on charlatans who dupe the naive and the gullible in the name of religion. The Eternal Strife, based on a mythological theme, represents the forces of Good (suras) locked in mortal combat with those of Evil (asuras) . The Elephant Fight allegorises Maya and its victims. It depicts two male elephants (victims) contending fiercely for the prize - Maya in the form of a female elephant who, standing at a distance, contemplates the fight with sadistic mirth. In appreciation of Gian Singh-s exquisite work in the Golden Temple, he was presented, in 1949, with a robe of honour by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. During his apprenticeship, Gian Singh had prepared a set of paintings on the Ten Sikh Gurus which was printed in Germany. It became very popular. Gian Singh died in 1953. Another famous Amritsar artist, G.S.Sohan Singh, was his son. His eldest son, Sundar Singh, was martyred in the Jallianvala Bagh Firing. Excerpts taken from "The Encyclopedia of Sikhism" edited by Harbans Singh |
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