An artist who paints with a curiosity is far better than one that paints with an objective in mind. The former doesn’t want his journey to end and wants to see continuously beyond the ordinary appearance of things. While the latter may limit himself to an objective or a purpose in his work and end it there, then from there proceed naturally to where he wants to go or feels he should go. Similar was the case with Ismail Guljee. He falls in the former category of painters who continue their journey till the end of their lives.
Intelligent and sensitive people have had glimpses of the world of light and shadows, while others have simply brushed it aside. Guljee being realistic and abstract in nature acquired totally a different meaning and entirely new sensitivity to the painting world.
On his canvas the dynamic forces of creation and expression unite and energize a new being. At first he did all kinds of style of paintings. In the beginning his sketches were highly classical and very meticulous but after some time he drew when it came to him like a breeze.
He used to say: “I live only when I paint.”
Born in 1926, the internationally famous artist Guljee received his BSC Honours degree from Aligarh University in 1945. He did  M.S. in Hydrolics in 1947. He also studied in Harvard University. Although, he was an engineer by profession, he did not lose his interest in painting and his first exhibition of paintings took place in Sweden in 1950. During his stay at Stockholm he displayed his creative skills through several solo and group exhibitions. Ignoring his engineering career, he took keen interest in the art of painting. During the 50s, he was commissioned to paint the portraits of the entire Afghan royal family.
In 1970 he was awarded the ‘Pride of Performance’ by the government of Pakistan. In 1982 he was also honored by ‘Sitar-e-Imtiaz’ and he again received the same award in 1988 for Monumental sculptural work done in Shah Faisal Mosque, Islamabad. Other than these, he achieved a number of other national and international awards, including Japan Foundation Award in 1979. To earn extra money while studying, he painted in Canada. In 1999 at a Sotheby’s auction of works of living artists, his art fetched the highest price. That was a great honour.
Guljee made his presence felt in the art scene of the country as well as abroad. He proved his artistry in many mediums of arts. He became popular among the dignitaries who liked to be painted by him.
Along with portrait drawing, he used his creativity to carve precious stones, which was given the name ‘Lapis Lazuli’. His Lapis Lazuli’s composition shows his skill and command over the medium. Then in 1960s there came a big change in his painting style, he began to do action painting. Just like Jackson Pollack, the master in action painting, Guljee used bright colours beautifully in his creations. He also introduced new techniques and made salient changes in his painting style that made him prominent among the contemporary painters.
Guljee’s creative artwork is a fusion of two cultures that is Islamic calligraphy and abstract expressionism; his brush strokes blend both modes in such a way that the painting becomes a masterpiece.
Although, he was an engineer, his passion was art and only art. He drew portraits of many internationally famous personalities. The scattered colours on his canvas speak for themselves. It is because of his strong strokes of abstract expressionism that gives life to the canvas. And these unique qualities made him one of the best artists of the world. He is among the top artists of mural painting (Mural is a large picture painted directly onto an interior or exterior wall of a building).
The legendary artist, Ismail Gulgee, died in mysterious circumstances at the age of 81. The news of his murder along with his wife Zarro and their 55-year-old maid Aasia surfaced on 19th December 2007, and  shocked the whole nation. They were found strangled to death at his home after three days. The tragedy resulted in a deep loss to country’s art world.
Late Gulgee made valuable contribution to the field of art and earned international stature. The art lovers would long remember his innovative creations both at home and abroad.