Visual artist & IT professional returns back to Pakistan with fond memories of Qatar
Born in 1961, Shabbir H Siddiqui, who creates art from discarded and throw-away materials, is all set to move back to his motherland after staying in the Qatar for more than 25 years. He had started his professional career in Qatar in 1996 while his journey of art and passion to transform ‘waste’ into ‘beauty’ began in the year 2003. Siddiqui has a strong desire to play his part in preserving the environment and uses his creativity to spread the message of waste recycling
PAKISTANI visual artist and IT professional Shabbir H Siddiqui, who creates art from discarded and throwaway materials, is all set to move back to his motherland after staying in the Qatar for more than 25 years. As he prepares to leave, he has mixed feelings of happiness and sadness. He is going to rejoin his relatives and friends after a long time as he bids adieu to a long list of friends hailing from different nationalities in Qatar.
Born in 1961, Siddiqui started his professional career in Qatar in 1996 while his journey of art and passion to transform waste’ into beauty’ began in year 2003.
Siddiqui has a strong desire to play his part in preserving the environment and uses his creativity to spread the message of waste recycling.
He creates art models using waste papers, cardboard, old magazines, used plastic bottles and metal pieces, as he considers these items precious raw materials for creating beautiful pieces of art.
“My plan is to settle down in my home town awalpindi, which is one of the most beautiful cities of Pakistan with its rich cultural values, the beautiful landscapes, the fertile land, and the heritage of hardworking and beautiful people.
“I will continue to pursue my passion and am planning to create large size art models in Pakistan. My ambition is to develop my artwork to a level where it is internationally recognised.
“I am also planning to expand Future Leaders Programme in Pakistan by opening its first branch in
awalpindi. I wish to visit different countries and I also plan to perform Haj soon,” replied Siddiqui when asked about his future plans upon his return to Pakistan.
“I am a very sensitive and softhearted person since my childhood. I love beauty, nature, flowers, landscapes, birds, insects and animals. On the other hand, I’m very much against wasting the precious resources like water, food and clothes.
“I hate the destruction of natural beauty of the land. My parents played a vital role in nurturing my aesthetic sense. I remember when I was a child, my father brought for me a large A3 size note book and asked me to collect different types of flowers and plant leaves.
“He taught me how to dry, paste and preserve them in the book. He guided me how to place different designs and colours together so that it would look attractive and appealing.
“My interest in arts was developed in my personality since early age. Drawing birds, flowers and landscapes was my hobby since early childhood,” answered Siddiqui when asked what inclined him towards this unique art.
He further said: “My art work is in-line with global movement towards sustainability, environment protection awareness and to combat global warming. I follow a few basic procedures to create my art at first an idea develops in my mind, then I transfer the idea on a paper, modify, reshape, arrange material and then and I start making my desired creation, and try my best to make it captivating and unique.
“I love to play with designs, decorate my art models with colors, experiment new ideas, and create different styles. Most of the art models I’ve created are coffee jugs, pitchers and incense burners, reflects hospitality, harmony and welcoming gesture. I like to spread the message of peace, love, and respect through my art”.
His artwork is influenced by Arabic and ancient art. Huge art models reflect Arabic, Iranian, Pakistani and Turkish style with a contemporary touch. His art work has been recognised in Qatar and highly appreciated by art lovers. He participated in many art exhibitions and art events in Qatar. His artwork has been published in almost all local English newspapers and magazines. He was also interviewed by Urdu adio Qatar FM 10 and French adio Oryx FM 94.
His artwork has been recognised by Qatar Gas, where he served during his entire period of living in Qatar. His artwork has also been recognised at an international event in Qatar.
“I make pitchers, Arabic coffee jugs etc. I design my own models and use my own techniques to create artwork. I experiment different techniques and use colors of my imaginations to decorate my art models.
“I’ve also made many models of incense burners and a model of Al-Thumama Stadium.
“I’m now making a large size jingle truck, which I’m planning to hand over as a gift to the Pakistan Embassy in Qatar,” remarked Siddiqui while adding: “I make different objects using my imaginations and self-developed techniques while using light to medium duty machines.
“I consider myself to be fortunate that my very first professional artwork was recognised and appreciated tremendously in Qatar. It was exhibited at Doha Exhibition Centre in 2004. Later, it was kept at the main reception of Qatar Gas in as Laffan for six months.”
He welcomes art lovers and youths to share his unique and self-developed art techniques. He has successfully conducted multiple art trainings and workshops in Qatar. He is very much optimistic that the future generations will handle the global environmental challenges more competently and efficiently.
“While I spent the most beautiful time of my life in Qatar, my golden moments were when I conducted an art trainings for youth in year 200 and another for general public under the auspicious of National Museum of Qatar.”
Siddiqui’s only son Ahmed follows the footsteps of his father and is currently working in a petrochemical company in Mesaieed. His wife is a home maker. She loves to cook, maintain home d cor and help him in his artwork.
Beside his artwork, Siddiqui takes a keen interest in social activities and has remained an active member of Sohni Dharti forum in Al Khor Community (AKC) since 199 .
He held various positions in Sohni Dharti Excom. As a programme lead, he designed and developed a unique programme for AKC youths titled Future Leaders’ to unravel their latent talent.
He is counted among the most senior toastmasters in Qatar. He joined TMI in 2005 and remained active until 2020.
My plan is to settle down in my home town Rawalpindi, which is one of the most beautiful cities of Pakistan with rich cultural values, beautiful landscapes, fertile land, and heritage of hardworking and beautiful people. I will continue to pursue my passion and am planning to create large-size art models in Pakistan. My ambition is to develop my artwork to a level where it is internationally recognised Shabbir H Siddiqui