Upon graduation, he was commissioned to construct a seventy-foot mural in Lahore's town center. He was also commissioned to decorate the Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan Palace, an architectural landmark in Karachi, under his instructors' supervision.[2]
Career
Mumtaz Hussain's artwork spans three distinct styles. His classic South Asian art is reimagined through a postmodern lens. Hussain incorporates the hieroglyphics of the Indus Valley civilization into his paintings, creating a bridge between ancient history and contemporary expression.[3]
Mumtaz published his first book of short stories in 2010, Gool Ainak ki Peyhe. In 2014 his second book of short stories and painting was published, Lafzon Main Tasvarain, In 2020 his third book of short stories and painting, Peli Pati Chuna Kum, was published. Mumtaz's fourth book, Mumtaz Hussain Dian Chuwian Kahinian, (GURMUKHI) was published in 2021, and Portrait in Words (English) in 2023.[4][5]
Portrait in Words has earned an Honorary Mention at the New England Book Festival.[6]
Film
Hussain has participated in a number of films as director, writer, producer of both animations and short films. Titles to date include the feature length Art=(Love)2, for which he also produced the paintings used in the film (2011), and shorts Butterfly Screams (2007), Push Button For (2006), Yeh Mera Pakistan Hai (This is My Pakistan) for Pakistani TV Channel GEO (2005), Inside You (2004).
His film Soul of Civilization has been shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as part of its 2003 exhibit The Art of the First Cities.[7]
Mumtaz Hussain's artistic journey began with high school theater. Transitioning to New York, he wrote and directed three plays: The Barking Crow, Legal Alien,[9]and Virus Bomb.[10][11][12]