By Aabid Mushtaq
It is not always the words, which can be used to recall, revive and address different incidents and events but carving out and mark out of any event on the wall, page or else looks more moving and lively. The stories of different miseries, mayhem and melancholy and ideas in the way of sketching can be vivaciously seen and felt in a conscientiously way.
The boy from Kashmir namely Shoaib Tariq started sketching few years back during the unrest of 2016. The sudden communication blackout and siege in the valley of J&K forced him to shape and reshape the dehumanized and destructed vale. In the deep despair and agonies of his separation from parents compelled him to escape and took refuge in drawing and etching imaginary pictures to solace him in silence and loneliness. This was the beginning of his artistic journey. indisputably ,it took him very much time to represent and nourish his accuracy to put ink of the pen to etch the miseries , grief , violence , death and destruction of the valley of Kashmir due to conflict in a peaceful and humble way. When words fall short, voices are being suppressed and every kind of movements restricted and confined indoors. Some way or the other way sketching provides him an option to pay homage to the ruined ground realities. The reviving of aesthetic way of healing up every other crumbled and ruined thing have been possible only through this medium.
The positive approach and consistent efforts in this field made him very pure in his art and brave at the same time because whatever he sketches and draws are the miseries, mayhem and melancholy of people. The pictures are the witness against all darkness and pain, which have been inflicted upon the land and people. The art he imbibes is not an exaggeration but a reality beyond words and as amazing as divinely.
The art he possess is an indicative and lively. Shoaib Tariq is a brilliant story narrator; his art speaks on behalf of the people who have been gone through the deep despair and pain by the hands of power in the valley. The sketches speak about loss, love, separation, death and destruction. The sketches he draws are evidences and can be used as an archive of our land post dispute resolution of Jammu and Kashmir.
Shoaib Tariq should be encouraged and supported. There are certain ways to do so. Social media can play a vital role in making his artistic skill accessible to all. The few social media handles which he uses are , twitter mirshoaib54, instagram shOaib_tariqa, Email; mirshoaib954@gmail.com and Blog; shoaibtariqa54@wordpreaa.com.
Author is a student of law , school of law at University of Kashmir, email aabiddar299@gmail.com
