Discovering The Third Dimension

Osama Manzar talks to the woman who is the first to transform script into sculpture
She does not know much about various eminent artists. She does not even know who is new in art and what is latest in the world of aesthetics. She knows only Islam, Muhammad and the ethics of being a Muslim. And, her favorite topic of discussion is the plight of Kashmir, the apathy of Islamic art, both bordering on nothing less than idealism. But, 24-year-old Sa But, 24-year-old Sahil Mir, has the credit of discovering the third dimension in Islamic calligraphy. Sahil is the first to have picked up calligraphy from the walls of drawing rooms and art galleries - to sculpt it and keep it in transparent glass boxes. Islamic calligraphy which had originated in Rome and had reached unbelievable heights of fame in the Moghul period, could not be moulded into sculpture even by Michelangelo’s So far the highest kind of modification that has ever taken place in Islamic calligraphy, is the ‘relief work’. Sahil too had first started with relief work I too had started with relief work which is considered to be a shadow making two dimensional work in calligraphy says Sahil While relief is basically arving the stone or wall, the sculpture is a work in the air only with the help of Marquette.. If relief work is supposed to be a propositionally weak work according to Ghufran Kidwai the guide of Sahil Mir, sculpture, especially in Islamic calligraphy, is considered to be highly skilled mechanically sound propositionally strong and aesthetically an admirable work of art. But how did the third dimension came to this Kashmiri artist s mind from the very beginning I liked to be different and have always tried to develop something which is not monotonous”, says Sahil. In fact, no one has done anything on Islamic sculpture in terms of 3-D, whereas, human figures have been the subject of artists, from ancient times. I changed my subject and concentrated on working out the third dimension in calligraphy, after a fruitful discussion with my guide when I joined Master of Fine Arts course in Jamia Millia Islamia.”, Says Kidwai, “She is the first who has used the sculpture form of calligraphy, whereas, everyone else has used its written form. I was impressed  with her innovativeness.” However Sahil and her skill is suffering due to lack of finances The department does not provide a penny to its students and Sahil is not wealthy enough to organize the raw material required for waxing misquoting and sculptures. Now, when she has already completed 20 sculptures, she is planning to work on metal, which is undoubtedly a costly affair A scholarship of Rs500 per month from the ‘Institute of Objective Studies’, is not enough to meet such a costly demand. Says Kidwai, “She has only one problem, that of finances. I wish she would get some aid to help her concentrate further on her work.”
But for all of Sahil’ s problems, she hasn’t lost faith - neither in her skill nor her God. “Inshaallah! I will exhibit my work late this year”, she is extremely hopeful. “I have immense faith in Allah.” All of Sahil’s sculptures are based on words of Quantico verses and on the name of prophets. Like Muhammad, Ali, Taha, Belal, Allah etc. She has made at least 10 sculptures only on Muhammad. “I love my prophet”, expressed Sahil. So far, she has worked only on those terms which have to be kept in consideration-mass, volume, weight, area etc. “For that matter, for proper balancing with an addition of nuqta working on 3-D proposition is extremely difficult”, she elaborates. ‘Hasan’ is the first word having nuqta, on which Sahil is working. “It took two rigorous days to work out the nuqta in Hasan”, says Sahil. “Islamic sculpture is basically an art of lines. The lines should be very sharp and prominent. Unlike Hindu art, Islamic art is extremely complex”, she clarifies further. However, Mir’s grievance Is the absence of IslamIc art in famous galleries, both nationally and internationally. “My desire Is too see my art, in particular and Islamic art in general, In every national and international level gallery. But I don’t have any ambition to become famous”, she says hastily. Adds Kidwai, “I don’t know whether the world of art will recognize her calibre and art, but I am quite satisfied with her work and her devotion.” Meanwhile Sahil Mir s next thrust is metal cast sculpture but “I will not stop the cement work. Art is not sold on the basis of its material It is the artist s mind that matters She couldn’t be more right.