Qasim Malik

Gen Musharraf inaugurating Col Qasim's calligraphy exhibition

Colonel Muhammad Qasim Malik S.I.(M) (born 1957) is a Pakistani soldier and calligrapher. He has held two calligraphy exhibitions, the first of which was inaugurated by Pervez Musharraf, and the second which was inaugurated by Irfan Ahmed Khan, President of the Pakistan Calligraph-Artists' Guild in Islamabad.

Qasim Malik has had no formal training in this field of art. He began by making oil paintings of various scenes, which received positive feedback from his peers. He continued to paint additional scenes over time.

With time, he changed his style of painting and became more focused towards calligraphy. It is in this field where by far he has excelled and literally produced contemporary masterpieces which are any calligraphy enthusiast's dream. His work has been praised as masterpieces amongst the contemporaries. Qasim is credited as the first person who has successfully been able to produce on hardboard, with oil paints, verses of the Quran in Khat-e-Suls. The oil paints are considered the most difficult medium to paint with and are more commonly associated with abstract art; since verses of Quran requires great precision to produce, Qasim's use of oil painting surprised many critics.

Speaking at the inauguration of Qasim's exhibition Mr. Irfan Ahmed Khan, President Calligraphic Association of Pakistan, remarked, "I find Col. Qasim’s method of painting highly unusual, however the results of his creations continue to baffle me and I am amazed at the simplicity and the uniqueness of his work." In Qasim's paintings, the elements of pure and basic calligraphy are clear and apparent. The use of Khat-e-Suls – which has also been used by renowned Muslim architects and artists in decorating the two Holy Mosques, and different Muslim Architecture around the world, throughout the ages – gives his paintings depth and a look of conventional Muslim art whilst clearly depicting the modern methods of painting and styling. His paintings are described as two paintings combined into one: Qasim paints out the background first, and then on top, paints the Holy Verses from the Quran. This element of modernity has been described as the underlying principle in his success.

After seeing the exhibition, critics highlighted the rich fluidity and creativeness of the artist, who even though he could not follow his hobby into full-time profession, still retains the vestiges of perhaps becoming one of the finest calligraphers Pakistan has at this point in time.

Qasim has so far hosted two successful calligraphy exhibitions. The first of these exhibitions was inaugurated by the former President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf. Some of Qasim's paintings have been requisitioned for the Faisal Mosque, whilst the former President of Pakistan is also a famous customer of this artist.