Anna Molka Ahmed
Encyclopedia
Anna Molka Ahmed was a famous Pakistan
i artist
and pioneer of fine art
s in the country after its independence in 1947. She was a professor of fine arts at the University of the Punjab
in Lahore
.
, United Kingdom
. Her mother was Polish
and father was a Russia
n. She studied painting
, sculpture
and design
at St. Martin School of Arts
, London
. After marrying Sheikh Ahmed, a would be Pakistani in October 1939, she converted to Islam
. Although, her marriage was over in 1951, she lived in Pakistan
with her two daughters.
, which has now become a center of excellence for Fine Arts
in Pakistan. Her students became famous artists in the country and many of them are playing their role globally.
issued a Rs. 40 sheetlet of stamps to posthumously honour 10 Pakistani painters. Besides Anna Molka Ahmed, the other nine painters were: Laila Shahzada
, Askari Mian Irani
, Sadequain
, Ali Imam
, Shakir Ali
, Zahoor ul Akhlaq
, Zubeida Agha
, Ahmed Pervez
and Bashir Mirza
.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and pioneer of fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
s in the country after its independence in 1947. She was a professor of fine arts at the University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
.
Background
She was born to Jewish parents, in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Her mother was Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and father was a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n. She studied painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
and design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
at St. Martin School of Arts
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After marrying Sheikh Ahmed, a would be Pakistani in October 1939, she converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. Although, her marriage was over in 1951, she lived in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
with her two daughters.
Art career
In 1940, Professor Emeritus Anna Molka Ahmed set up the Department of Fine Arts, now the College of Arts and Design at the University of the PunjabUniversity of the Punjab
University of the Punjab , colloquially known as Punjab University, is located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The University of the Punjab is the oldest and biggest University of Pakistan. The University of the Punjab was formally established with the convening of the first meeting of its...
, which has now become a center of excellence for Fine Arts
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
in Pakistan. Her students became famous artists in the country and many of them are playing their role globally.
Awards and honours
- Awarded Tamgha-i-ImtiazTamgha-i-ImtiazTamgha-i-Imtiaz , English: Medal of Excellence, is state organized honour of State of Pakistan. It is the fourth-highest decoration given to any civilian in Pakistan based on their achievements. While, it is civilian award, it can also be bestowed to Military officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces...
(1963), the highest civil award for her services in the field of fine arts education in the country. - Awarded President's Award for the Pride of Performance in 1969.
- Khudeja Tul Kubra Medal
Postage stamp
On August 14, 2006, Pakistan PostPakistan Post
Pakistan Post is a state enterprise dedicated to providing wide range of postal products and public services in Pakistan. It is the largest postal service in the country...
issued a Rs. 40 sheetlet of stamps to posthumously honour 10 Pakistani painters. Besides Anna Molka Ahmed, the other nine painters were: Laila Shahzada
Laila Shahzada
Laila Shahzada is one of Pakistan's most internationally renowned artists. She was of the first women painters in Pakistan to gain international recognition, with exhibitions around the world including Pakistan, London, Paris, Tokyo, Monte Carlo and New York.-Honours:She was awarded the...
, Askari Mian Irani
Askari Mian Irani
-Early life and education:Irani received a diploma in design from the National College of Arts , Lahore in 1967.-Stamp design:Irani designed two stamps of the Third Organisation of the Islamic Conference issue....
, Sadequain
Sadequain
Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi , Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, also often referred to as Sadequain Naqqash, was a world-renowned Pakistani artist, best known for his skills as a calligrapher and a painter...
, Ali Imam
Ali Imam
-Works:Immam has written more than 200 books, translated nearly 40. Child psychology, humanism and adventure is found in his writing. A simple style is available. Adventures, science fictions, stories related with historic events are the categories....
, Shakir Ali
Shakir Ali
Shakir Ali [ Urdu: شاکر على Shakir Ali [ Urdu: شاکر على Shakir Ali [ Urdu: شاکر على (1914–1975] was an influential modern Pakistani artist and art teacher. He was the principal of the National College of Arts in Lahore. He joined Mayo School of Art as Lecturer in Art in 1954 and after the...
, Zahoor ul Akhlaq
Zahoor ul Akhlaq
Zahoor ul Akhlaq was a pioneering artist from Pakistan. He is known for his approach to painting, sculpture, design and architecture, as well as his teaching at the NCA in Lahore....
, Zubeida Agha
Zubeida Agha
Zubeida Agha [ Urdu: زبىده آغا ] was the first Pakistani modern artist. After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, she was the first artist to have an exhibition of her paintings. She helped bring the modern idiom to Pakistan.-Career:...
, Ahmed Pervez
Ahmed Pervez
Ahmed Parvez [ Urdu: احمد پروىز was a Pakistani modernist painter whose work was marked with energy. He was member of The Lahore Group in Pakistan and founder member of the Pakistan Group in London....
and Bashir Mirza
Bashir Mirza
Bashir Mirza PP, was a Pakistani painter.-Early life:Born in Amristar in 1941, a Tonga makers son, B.M. manage to climb the ladder to fame.-Education:...
.