Peshawar artist Abid Shah makes artefacts with wheat straw, sticks
In this art, the artist needs to trim, paint and polish the wheat dry sticks, and then make them into a picture on the canvas.
Syed Abid Shah has arranged the best art of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman using wheat straw and sticks. He has expressed his desire to present MBS portraits to him with his own hands.
Peshawar artist Syed Abid Shah has been making unique artefacts at home for the past 50 years. Making portraits of wheat plants, plywoods and black cloth blisters and straws is a unique and different art.
Syed Abid Shah told News360 said that he has learned the artwork from his uncle. According to him, the artwork has a history of 200 years.
Syed Abid Shah says that almost 30 years ago there were four artists who were experts in straw art. He said that four artists working in the same medium have died and now he is the only artist in this field.
Shah said that his works were exhibited at various festivals at the national level. He is associated with this art due to his passion and love for this artwork.
He said that he had completed the portrait of Mohammed bin Salman after 25 days due to love and respect for the Saudi Crown Prince and wanted to present the gift himself to the Saudi royal.
Shah has been practising straw art for decades. According to him, Chinese folk art is at least 2000 years older than the Johan family.
In this art, the artist needs to trim, paint and polish the wheat dry sticks, and then make them into a picture on the canvas.
One of Syed Abid Shah’s artworks was making the family lineage artwork of former Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, to which he received Rs 50,000 in 2012.
Abid Shah said that he knew that there would be no huge amount of straw painting, so he did this art with passion and runs his household expenditures after selling 4 to 5 arts a week.
He added that the artwork is unique and they receive orders from different countries including China, Dubai, Europe and the United States for its art, but due to limited resources they cannot showcase their art at national and international events.