DIPLOMA IN FRESCO PAINTING
Introduction

Fresco painting has a prominent position in the field of art as well as in history. It has been practiced for thousands of years to fulfill different purposes, whether it was the Ajanta paintings of 2nd century BC, the first landscape of Jericho, the ceiling of the Sistine chapel by Michelangelo, Fresco Paintings by the Mughals and the Sikhs, or the contemporary Fresco Paintings at Dar-ul-Hikmat by Ustad Saif-ur-Rehman Lahore. In an overview of the history of South Asian Art, we find a wide range of Frescos in ancient caves, forts, mosques, shrines, temples, public and private buildings.

The need for this programme is felt because there is a lack of an informed understanding and sensitivity to the existing paintings all over the country. As a result Fresco Painting loses value in the contemporary context. There is an urgent need to educate, train and develop an informed understanding of the history, tradition and practice of an ancient indigenous art form. This is an art form that has relevance even in the present day, provided existing expertise in this field is rescued from imminent demise.

The span of one thousand years up to the 21st century, has transformed the realm of ideas and technology in the form of visual representation through different movements of art and literature in different societies. The industrial revolution and scientific inventions have opened new dimensions for art and artists as well. These prospects provide an opportunity to take inspiration from different sources to enable the individual to explore his/her regional roots in order to meet the global challenges.

Today the conservation of cultural and artistic heritage is receiving international attention, and the traditional arts are gaining a better understanding, and are being revived and practiced worldwide.

The professional course in Fresco Painting addresses the gap created after colonization, when the patronage of the indigenous arts discontinued. It is fitting that an institution like the NCA take the lead in fulfilling a national responsibility in the conservation, promotion and revival of a classical art form, to fulfill the requirements of the arts, both in the tradttional arts and modern developments.

Aims & Objectives

The one year professional diploma in Fresco Painting aims to promote and revive an endangered art form through a formal teaching programme. The programme will enable students to develop an understanding of Classical Fresco Painting of South Asia in terms of its concepts, history, evolution,aesthetic origins, structure, and technique. The aim is to stimulate an intelligent, critical and dynamic awareness of the philosophy and techniques of Classical Fresco Painting as well as its practice in the contemporary context. Calligraphy as well as its practice in the contemporary context.

The main objective of the programme is to rediscover and recreate the link between a meaningful theory and practice of Fresco Painting. The programme also aims to produce Fresco Painters for the future, whose practice is based on critical understanding and rigorous training, with the purpose of renewing a tradition of South Asian Fresco Painting, and shaping and developing the cultural sensibilities of the people in the twenty first century.

Learning Outcome

The students will be able to set the standards of not only good craftsmanship but also generate a powertul and qualitative growth and development of Fresco Painting and its placement in the contemporary context.

Students of this programme will have many career openings and academic opportunities in places such as UNESCO conservation projects, archeology departments, private and corporate sectors.

It will enable the students to interact with local and various international traditional art programmes that offer South Asian, Middle Eastern and Islamic Arts, like The Prince's School of Traditional Arts (VITA Programme), London, and institutions in Turkey, Iran, Central Asia and Japan.
COURSE
STRUCTURE
Duration: 1 Academic Year
1-Academic Year: 2 Terms
Evening Program: 2:30 PM- 6:30 PM
Days/Week: Monday-Friday
ADMISSION
REQUIREMENTS
Entry Requirements
F.A/FSc. or any equivalent Certificate with minimum 45% marks.

Admission Criteria
Interview
Portfolio
Applicants are advised to bring any related work to the interview.
COURSE
OUTLINE
Theory: 25%
History of Fresco Painting
Contemporary Fresco Painting
Seminars
Tutorials

Practical: 75%
Introduction of Fresco painting techniques.
Drawing (Biomorphic & Geometric patterns, Calligraphy, Figure drawing.)
Pigments and Preparation
Tools and Materials
Technique and process
FACULTY
Prof. Dr. Murtaza Jafri

Principal
Programme Director
BFA National College of Arts, Lahore
MA Chelsea College of Arts, London
PhD (Fine Arts), Post Doc. Research Fellow AVA, London
Advanced Drawing, Concordia University, Montreal

Muhammad Shahzad Tanveer

Deputy Registrar (Academics)
B.A, LLB, LLM (Candidate)

Ustad Saif-ur-Rehman

(Pride of Performance)

Hafiz Saeed Ahmed

Faculty

Lahore Campus Contact

Rawalpindi Campus Contact


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