Artist and Vice-Chancellor NCA Murtaza Jafri explains the connection between art and the society

A painter, sculptor, draftsman and teacher, Dr Murtaza Jafri has been rendering matchless services in the field of Arts since 1987. He has studied at various national and international institutions in England, Canada and Pakistan. He worked as Director Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad from 1989 to 90 and is currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore.

Answering some queries put forward by this scribe, this is what he had to say:

What brought you to this field, luck or chance?

My admission to the field of Arts was purely by chance. Generally, when we talk about the students entering the NCA, we say that they are passionate about the discipline, but in my case, it was a savage route which later became a passion. And I am still driven by this. I remember being very nervous while taking the drawing test for college admission. Although, at that time, the competition was not the same as over 6,000 students had applied for some 200 seats at the NCA. In my judgment, the entrance test did not go well, as happens mostly with artists. But then the lady luck smiled and I got selected.

Were your parents happy?

They always allowed me to do whatever I wanted to, and never insisted to opt for engineering or medicine because I would have been a 9 to 5 office-goer. The job was not considered a due product of education in our family. My parents never forced me to get into a routine job for bread-winning.

Were you fond of business?

Not really. I feel if one’s aptitude is for Arts, he should be in the quest for that. A jewel’s actual worth could only be gauged by a jeweller.

NCA has produced many legends in the field of arts. Tell us a bit about its history.

The NCA is an institution established some 150 years ago. It was developed to export industrially designed quality goods. The college was not only Art oriented in terms of academics but it also promulgated the zest of mastering practical skills alongside acquiring theoretical knowledge. Soon, its name was changed from Arts College to the National College of Arts. Although changing names is not a big achievement, the quality of work being produced at the institution has made it a brand name locally as well as internationally.

The historic building of the NCA have been housing masterpieces of legendary artists for a very long time. How are they preserved?

Centuries-old artwork and structures displayed here are present in their real form. I believe the structures have sanctity, and they should not be altered. We maintain them and get inspired by them, don’t we? Whether it is a human body or a building, it has its ambience, vibe, expression and aura. So we try to conserve the conceived structures. Although with time, we have run short of space, we are working on expansion.

Is it true that you are the country’s first PhD in fine arts?

Yes, I came here in 2002 after completing my PhD, after which we started the PhD programme enrollments at the University of Punjab, and in other institutions as well. I have been supervising the PhDs all over the country.

Is it difficult to get admission to the NCA? What’s the criterion?

The number of enrolled students right now is 1,800. Every year, we receive over 5,000 applications. The applicants have to go through a series of screening tests including a drawing test, aptitude test and interview. Moreover, we have added a music department and new subjects in the department of Cultural Studies. The university is expanding and people prefer to study here than abroad because of the internationally well-known academic standards.

What qualities differentiate an artist from the rest?

I think humans are born with multiple talents. Artists have got in them something exceptional. For being a remarkable artist, a passion for fulfilling individual desires is required. The beauty lies in the pursuit of the drive, which then refines them from metal rock to gold finally.

Picasso had once mentioned that nothing big could be achieved without absolute solitude. How do you meet the work-life balance equation?

I make sure to be available for all my colleagues, associates and students whenever they need me. I spend almost two-thirds of my day at the NCA, return home to my family and try my best to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

How is Art important for our society?

I believe societies are built under the norms of language, culture and traditions while Art is its mere manifestation. It inculcates tolerance and patience among the masses. It stimulates the intellect of putting oneself in someone else’s shoes. It enriches the human ability for not only self-expression but if utilised, observed and appreciated meaningfully it can bring revolutions. Art has the power of knowledge’s magnitude. The only need is its promotion in the right proportion, at the right time with refined quality.

Your students built special tents for flood victims. Please share a few snippets of NCAs contribution.

The destruction caused by the floods this year was massive. In my whole life, I have never seen one-third of the country submerged in flood waters. So, when we started to contribute, we saw how the prices of basic relief products like tents, food, medicine and clothes went up quickly. A tent generally costing around 4000 rupees suddenly started selling at Rs 14000. And that identifies the dilemma of our society. Our students worked together to prepare tents for the flood victims. It took them about 3 to 4 weeks to prepare around 700 tents which were transported to the affected areas.