PESHAWAR: The work of a Pushtun artist, Liaqat Ali Khan, is set to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. A portrait of the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, is expected to enter the record book for being the world’s biggest. The portrait has been erected at the entrance of Abu Dhabi breakwater opposite the Abu Dhabi Hilton Hotel.
The new portrait is made up of 285 separately assembled pieces, each one meter in length and one meter in height. The border of the painting measures 6,546 ft x 1.45 ft and the total area is 5,550 sq feet. The portrait’s border is made up of 8,000 pieces of colourful plastic mosaic, featuring an ornate Islamic design of criss-cross arches and stars.
Liaqat Ali Khan, an employee of the Abu Dhabi Municipality and Town Planning Department whose work can be seen all over Abu Dhabi, said the portrait has been crafted on waterproof plywood with both emulsion and synthetic colours. The painting shows Sheikh Zayed on a horse and holding a falcon. The 35 meters long and 19.88 meters wide portrait is erected on a floral bed arranged in an artistic design by Liaqat.
The 53-year-old artist hails from Kohat and has been decorating Abu Dhabi with plants, flowers and paintings on the celebrations of national day of the UAE and accession day of the Sultan. At present, he has about 12 of his portraits of Sheikh Zayed put up at different landmarks within Abu Dhabi and also a unique one along Dubai highway, measuring 2,320 square feet.
Liaqat, who has painted several famous people, said the maximum number of portraits he has done were of the UAE president. “I have painted more than 1,000 portraits of Sheikh Zayed,” he remarked. The new portrait was made to commemorate the anniversary of accession of Sheikh Zayed as ruler of the Abu Dhabi on August 6.
The talented artist, a diploma holder in fine arts from the University of Peshawar, recently painted the world’s largest portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, which he gifted to the government of Pakistan on behalf of the Pakistani community in Abu Dhabi. He has numerous achievements and awards to his credit, including a lifetime achievement award from the Pakistani community in the UAE.
Liaqat is now looking for sponsors to provide material for yet another magnum opus of the Sultan. He is willing to make the painting free of charge. “What I need is the material. The offer is open to anyone who can help me achieve this goal,” he said.