Meet Imran Qureshi, the man who received Sitara-e-Imtiaz for services in poetry, miniature art

• Imran Qureshi receives Sitara-e-Imtiaz from President Arif Alvi.
• His artwork has been exhibited in US, UK, UAE, among other places.
• His works have been displayed locally and internationally for the past 25 years.

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Imran Qureshi, one of Pakistan's most iconic artists, has recently been awarded the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz for his exemplary services to the country in the category of arts — painting and miniature.

The award was presented to him by President Arif Alvi during a customary ceremony on March 23.

Qureshi's artistic acumen is firmly rooted in the tradition of miniature painting — an art form that reached its zenith during the Mughal Era. 

For the last 25 years, the artist's work has been exhibited both locally and internationally.

His work has "greatly expanded the language of miniature painting, both in traditionally sized and crafted works and in many original variations in the form of site-specific installations, three-dimensional works, videos, and paintings on paper and canvas," according to Qureshi's profile published on Nature Morte.

The artist was born in Hyderabad, Sindh, and currently works in Lahore. Aside from his artistic activities, he also teaches miniature painting at his alma mater, the National College of Arts.

Qureshi, according to his profile, is among the top artists in the country and has received national and international recognition for his site-specific installations.

Blessings Upon the Land of My Love, 2011, for the Sharjah Biennial, They Shimmer Still, 2012, for the Biennale of Sydney in 2012, and a large-scale, site-specific work for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Roof Garden Commission in New York in 2013, are among his notable works.

His artwork has been featured in Germany, the United States, France, United Arab Emirates, and England, among other places.

"The idea behind (my artwork) was to give a feel of infinity to the space that it's not ending at a certain point — it's continuous," he said while talking about his works.

Despite all his engagements, Qureshi, since 1993, has never thought of quitting his teaching career at the National College of Art. "I believe that if you have learned so much and do not pass it on to your younger generation, it is not a good act."