Institute of Art & Design University of Sindh, Jamshoro

Profile By Uzair Shah

Institute of Art & Design
University of Sindh, Jamshoro

The tradition of teaching and creative arts in Institute of Arts & Design has been solid and energetic in university of Sindh.

Institute of Art & Design was established as ‘Department of Fine Arts’ in ‘1970’ in the building of ‘Geography Department’ at university of Sindh. The first chairman and founder of Fine Arts Department was ‘Mr. A.R Nagori’, a very well-known artist of Pakistan. In beginning the department of Fine Arts offered two year bachelor program called BA(Pass) in Fine Arts.

In 1985 the department of Fine Arts introduced syllabus of MA(Pass) in Fine Arts for meeting the needs of job market at that time.

In 2005 the Department of Fine Arts was upgraded as the Institute of Art & Design, having two major fields as Fine Arts and Design. The Institute offered four-year Degree program such as Bachelor of Fine Arts which has major in Painting, Sculpture and Ceramics, Bachelor of Design as Bachelor of Communication Design and Bachelor of Textile Design. The institute also offered Bachelor of Art History and one year Diploma in Music.

The institute of Art & Design was first established in the building of Geography Department. After few years the Department of Fine Arts moved into the building of Arts Faculty. In March 2006 the foundation stone was laid by Mr. Mazharul Haq Sidiqui, ex-Vice Chancellor of University of Sindh. At that time the director of Institute of Art & Design was Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali Bhatti. 
The Institute of Art & Design shifted from building of Arts Faculty in 2008. On Tuesday 25^th March 2008 the Inauguration Ceremony of Institute of Art & Design was performed by Mr.Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, ex-vice chancellor. The first Thesis Display of communication design was also performed in the present building of Institute of Art & Design in 2009.

The institute offers multiple courses: Four-year Degree Program such as Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Art History and one year Diploma in Music. The Bachelor of Fine Arts has major in painting, Sculpture and Ceramics, and Bachelor of Design has Bachelor of Communication Design and Bachelor of Textile Design. The four year Bachelor and one year diploma program in music is designed with emphasis on studio and research disciplines to encourage students for developing their individual style and understanding of Art as well as Design.

The Institute also offers M.Phil leading to PhD in Art & Design to the students who have completed four year bachelor in any of the major area of studies for further research and specialization in respective major field of studies.

For the teaching of all disciplines the Institute of Art & Design has a wide faculty of twenty (20) members, including eight (8) Assistant Professor, five (5) Lecturers, three (3) Teaching Assistants, two (2) Research Assistants and two (2) master craftsmen. The faculty is led by Mr. Naimatullah Khilji, Assistant professor and in-charge Director of Institute of Art & Design. Unfortunately the institute does not have any PhD professor as faculty member in present situation.

The institute also has a great trend of having national & international level-artists in its teaching faculty. The first name is Mr. A.R Nagori who was the founder of Fine Arts department at university of Sindh as well as a very well-known artist of Pakistan. Muhammad Ali Bhatti is Portrait artist whose exhibitions are kept conducting at national & international level. Musarat Mirza and Nadir Ali Jamali, international artists, have also been the part of faculty at Institute of Art & Design.

Despite the famous artists in teaching faculty, a great number of students who passed out from the Institute of Art & Design became well-known artists at national as well as international level. Among these brilliant students the few very famous names are: Mr. Ali Abbas, who was graduated from the institute of Art & Design, is now a well known Fine Artist. His specialty is water colors, and he is known as water-colorist. Another considerable name is Mr. Shaukaut Khokhar, who is well known fine artist, working at national and international level. Same like Mr. Shaukaut, Mr. Najeeb Rashidi is also a famous fine artist.

In comparison to other institutes of different universities, especially NCA Lahore, the institute of Art & Design at university of Sindh does not have equal facilities to provide its students. The institute does not have any studio, enough cameras for the students in offered courses. According to the students of institute, they do not have enough teachers as well. Some teachers of communication design are teaching in textile design and same as in other fields. The students further added, “We do not have enough subjects-specialists as well.” The reason of this all is low funds in comparison to other institutes like NCA Lahore, a teacher said.

The ratio of students, taking admissions and completing their degrees in art & design, has continuously been increasing since the establishment. In previous years the number of students used to be around thirty (30), which has now increased up to hundred (100).

The institute has maintained its excellence in producing good artists over years, and will keep it up, is hoped.

(Muhammad Uzair-158)