M A Bukhari is largely inspired by Islamic motifs and traditions. From the beginning he was involved in working on modern calligraphic forms which exhibit design pattern, bold brush strokes and detailed inscriptions, all of which are characteristic of his style.
He is drawn to bright vibrant colours and his compositions are embellished with a variety of old calligraphic seals and different textures. Balanced, aesthetics and modern forms are all well integrated in his work and result in art which is rich and creative in nature.
After obtaining his Masters degree in political science from Karachi University, M A Bukhari got his Diploma in Fine Arts from Karachi School of Art, to quench his thirst for art.
After some time he started painting landscape and abstract as well as portraits. He shows his views in a prominent manner with the help of bright colours in all of his works. Bukhari is highly influenced by Islamic heritage and this can be seen on his canvas with a strong background of bright colours in calligraphy. He does it in an extraordinary manner. His specialisation in colour and texture speaks for themselves. Every painting has a tale to tell.
M. A. Bukhari captured the essence of life in his canvas in his previous series 'Ism-e-Azam'. He has intelligently combined modern cubism and Arabic words, not losing aesthetic sense yet they oppose each other. In that series of calligraphy he works in cubism.
Lines in his work are like those of a miniature painter; a multiple palette does not disturb his minute script; parallel colours create challenges that he deals effectively. The result is amazing like a patchwork a 'rilli'. Grey and dull orange, grey and beige, light brown and turquiose, red and light brown, mustard and red serve as a ground for the decorated patches. Most of the artists who use heavy colours in their paintings always lean more on decorative designs, the pleasing quality of the visual field rather than on artistic expressions. But Bukhari's case is different, his artistic expressions talk for themselves and need no interpretation.
The oil and prints that are in contrast to his earlier works are cerebral and critically conscious. Over the years Bukhari's paintings seem to becoming ever more esoteric with volume and depth. He uses layers upon layers of colours sometimes subduing the form as well as drowning the meaning. The paintings are a journey in inferiority, the grid within a grid of consciousness. "The world itself is an inspiration for humans. I consider technique as the basic unit of my work. I spread colours on the canvas and try to conceive my imagery on it as landscape and abstract.
And at other times for the calmness of soul I took solace in calligraphy. At times my aesthetic sense appeals to me to do a portrait", its how he explains his involvement with art. In his recent painting exhibition at Shakil Ismail Art Gallery he uses impasto technique, which is popular in Italy. He put both of his works in landscape and abstract in the exhibition.
His inner thirst for art led him to Rome from where he did one year course in Advance Painting on scholarship from Allbuman School of Arts, Italy. Impasto is a technique in which thick layers of colours are used to create impression. You can see the creative energy in his work, though bright in colours his canvas reveals clearly his expression which he wants to convey through them. He had worked in collage as well. His work is aesthetically satisfying for the viewers. Overall his work is well executed and there is no battle with technique. The images are unblemished.
The stroke of brush on his canvas spoke of his mastery and facility with painting. The beauty, frustration and the strife all you can see in his different techniques of work. The range and depth in his recent 'Deep Sea' abstract series is amazing. He turned the canvas in to decorative illustrations to a more intense expressive medium. Blue and red dominate the 'Deep Sea' series.
His major works are pure play of colours other than the technique he uses in different mediums and styles. The grassy green and the fishy aqua speak of his love for nature. His joy in colour mysteriously brings back echoes of Bengali painters. Winner of a Gold Medal from the ministry of Population and Planning, he won two Sadequain Award and his two mural commission paintings in Parliament House Islamabad. He has many solo and group exhibitions to his credit at home and abroad.
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