An Icon, A Mother & Love Letters – From Nazia Ejaz to Madam Noorjehan

Nazia Ejaz is one of my favourite artists when it comes to playing with patterns, colour and especially the incorporation of gold leaf into her work without making it too loud. She opened with her show ‘Love Letters at Canvas Gallery yesterday and of course, this was a show not to miss!

When Nazia was in University in the 90s, she would get handwritten letters in Urdu from her mother, the iconic singer Noor Jehan, every week. Nazia’s foreign friends, curious with the script would have her read them out to them with translations. The writing was so romantic and khaas, with the eloquence of the Urdu language itself retained, that they would tell Nazia these sounded like love letters.

Madam Noor Jehan needs no introduction. A mother, a film star, and a singer known by her honorific title Malika-e-Tarannum  (the Queen of melody) was so gifted, that after she sang and popularised the song ‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat‘ which is a poem written by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he once said, “Woh geet ab mera kahan, Noor Jehan ka ho gaya hai.”

As you’ve noticed, I referred to her as a mother, first. That is what she was. Her youngest, being Nazia Ejaz – the one spoiled to bits by a doting mother with whom she shared a room with until her last days.

Thus the collection name ‘Love Letters’ which Nazia Ejaz just revealed to the world with a collection of works that is inspired by Nazia’s journey through childhood with her mother.

An iconic chanteuse whose melodic range is unforgettable and now immortalised in print by an equally doting daughter, who is now sending a love letter back to her mother. A collection so touching, it makes you appreciate your mother more.

The artist has been quoted as saying, “More than Noor Jehan the singer, these artworks are my vision of Noor Jehan the woman, who was truly a symbol of female empowerment.”