Corporate Art Task Force Blogs

Rubab, robab or rabab is a lute-like musical instrument originating from central Afghanistan. The rubab is mainly used by Pashtun, Tajik, Turkish, Kashmiri, Baluch, Azerbaijani, and Iranian Kurdish classical musicians. Rubab is one of the national m... 

What is Attan? Attan is a form of dance that originated in Afghanistan. Attan began as a folk dance conducted by Pashtuns in times of war or during weddings or other celebrations (engagements, new year, and informal gatherings). It is now considered... 

CATF is noted for its diverse range of art styles and techniques which it embodies in its rich and aesthetically diverse gamut of art. From expressionism to impressionism, our strokes appeal to the tastes of all art connoisseurs. Many art lovers o... 

What is Contemporary Art? Strictly speaking, the term "contemporary art" refers to art made and produced by artists living today. Today's artists work in and respond to a global environment that is culturally diverse, technologically advancing, an... 

Dubai’s Tallest Skyline All you have to do is approach Dubai from the desert and you’ll come across the mightily photogenic skyline of Dubai with its gleaming skyscrapers shimmering like a mirage. Dubai’s architectural achievements symbolize... 

What is a Zellige? Zellige is mosaic tilework made from individually chiseled geometric tiles set into a plaster base. This form of Islamic art is one of the main characteristics of Moroccan architecture. It consists of geometrically patterned... 

Many people have a love/hate relationship with the ever-bustling (Istiklal Street or Istiklal Avenue – İstiklal Caddesi in Turkish) that runs from Taksim Square nearly all the way to the landmark Galata Tower. Although it is the beating heart of... 

( Bibliographic Source: Peter Somer Travels) From shadow puppetry to wandering minstrels, village dances to Ottoman military music, folk traditions pervade all areas and levels of... 

Seen from a distance you might think that it’s just a tower, a little tower at that. Located 35 meters above sea level with its nine floors, the tower is 67 metres high. Built in 1348 It was destroyed, rebuilt, restored, decorated with a dome and h... 

As man-made monuments go, the Hagia Sophia is one of the world’s most distinguished. The imposing, 1,480-year-old building in the heart of Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district stood for almost 1,000 years as an ornate cathedral, a place where Byzantin... 

Our weekly contest winner, Miro Gradinscak, shares his story of art. We asked Miro where he hailed from and what triggered his interest in art. Here is what Miro said, Hey, My name is Miro Gradinscak and I come from Croatia, a small ... 

Our weekly contest winner, Jim Schultz , shares his journey of art • Jim, when and why did you get interested in art? I am a part-time artist who has always loved drawing. I also work as an engineer for NASA. Several of my drawings are selfie... 

Arab culture and passion for horses go hand in hand. According to ancient legend, the Arabian horse was born of a handful of the south wind and virtue is bound into the hair of its forelock, its master is its friend and he has been given the power ... 

Arab culture and passion for horses go hand in hand. According to ancient legend, the Arabian horse was born of a handful of the south wind and virtue is bound into the hair of its forelock, its master is its friend and he has been given the power ... 

Handling edges is a skill that all fine artists will need to learn sooner or later. Edges that are out of focus are vital in paintings in order to create the 3D illusion of making things look like they recede in a landscape painting, for example. Edg... 

What is “sufi dance”? This dance is a spiritual practice (known as Samâ) and is related to “spiritual hearing” in sufism. This whirling or spinning style dance is sometimes referred to as the dance of the “Whirling Dervishes” but ther... 

Our collection of paintings on Sufis and mystics primarily feature Sufis and their dances. In order to understand the depth of these paintings, it is vital that one primarily gets acquainted with the concept of Sufism and what it is all about. Su... 

This week, Team CATF would be delineating its tried and tested tips and guidelines for all aspiring artists out there on how to varnish an acrylic painting. WHY VARNISH YOUR ACRYLIC PAINTINGS? You might be wondering at this juncture that why d... 

Belly Dance- What is it? Belly dance is an expressive dance which emphasizes complex movements of the torso. Originally a Middle Eastern folk dance, it has evolved to take many different forms depending on the country and region, both in costume and... 

CATF Artist Guide for Beginners: Acrylic Paint Supplies Needless to say acrylic paint supplies and knowledge of where to get them is an essential must-have before you start painting with acrylics. Here we have jotted down a list of all the suppli... 

Acrylics are a huge favorite with CATF team. Our talented artists love exploiting this amazing art medium to its full potential. Today, we would be elucidating those characteristics of acrylic paints which make them an appealing and interesting mediu... 

Middle Eastern Art • Is it even a genre? The category of Middle Eastern art is necessarily general since it incorporates the region’s incredible diversity and breadth, spanning from eastern Mediterranean to Pakistan. • If it is, what t... 

Art makes people and people make art. It is a tricky yet an incredulous and intriguing combination. Our incredibly talented artist Maryam Mughal embodies this combination to its perfection. Hereby, she would be sharing the story of  her venture into... 

Kūfic script, in calligraphy is the earliest extant Islamic style of handwritten alphabet that was used by early Muslims to record the Qurʾān. * Characteristics of Kufic Calligraphy This angular, slow-moving, dignified script was also use... 

Kūfic script, in calligraphy is the earliest extant Islamic style of handwritten alphabet that was used by early Muslims to record the Qurʾān. * Characteristics of Kufic Calligraphy This angular, slow-moving, dignified script was also use... 

Our weekly contest winner, Anne Gifford shares her journey of art * Anne, when and why did you get interested in art? I have been creating art of some type or another since the age of 4. I am forever grateful that my parents enthusiastically e... 

Truck Art- What is it? Pakistan’s ‘truck art’ is now quite a well-known ‘genre’ around the world. For long, it has been an homegrown art-form in South Asia, especially in Pakistan, where the whole idea of decorating trucks (also, lor... 

Hey folks! This week, the art movement which we would be featuring is Pop art. What is Pop Art? The first question which would have popped to your mind would be that what this movement is about. Pop Art is a modern art movement that develope... 

�When a poet digs himself into a hole, he doesn�t climb out. He digs deeper, enjoys the scenery, and comes out the other side enlightened.� ― Criss Jami, Venus in Arms For me an artist is this very person. For me, art is this very hole. T... 

Overview During the mid-nineteenth century, the provocative and sensuous Aesthetic movement threatened to dismantle Britain's fussy, overbearing, and conservative Victorian traditions. More than a fine art movement, Aestheticism penetrated all are... 

This week CATF bring forth to you the tale of one of our most talented artist's journey into the realm of art and colors. Mawra will be sharing with us her story of inspirations and achievements in her own words. �Art washes away from the ... 

Ever wondered whose creative genius it was which connected with you through that particular piece of art? Ever wondered whose inspiration caught your eye and touched some place deep in your heart? Ever wondered whose hand made those brush strokes? Ev... 

Every artist has a muse, but what happens when two creative geniuses get together? What for that matter is erotic art? What does it delineate? Where does it get its inspiration from? This week�s feature blog would look into the art ... 

What is Expressionism? Expressionism emerged simultaneously in various cities across Germany as a response to a widespread anxiety about humanity's increasingly discordant relationship with the world and accompanying lost feelings of authenticit... 

In recent years, the attention paid to contemporary Islamic art has been increasing significantly among curators, art dealers, art critics, and collectors, mostly interested in the arts produced by artists who draw their inspiration from their cultur... 

"It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago. She outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them." - Mark Twain, 1883 Chicago was only 46 years old when Mark Twain wrote those words, but it had already grown more... 

Calligraphy CATF has an entire range of Islamic art diverse in its themes and form yet unified by the similarity of its origin and the school of thought which it gets its inspiration from. Hereby, we would be discussing these varied themes which ... 

Islamic Calligraphy- What is it? Islamic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy, based upon the alphabet in the lands sharing a common Islamic cultural heritage. It includes Arabic, Ottoman, and Persian calligraphy... 

Faisalabad is an extremely rich and diverse city of Pakistan with a very generous culture which has its roots embedded deeply in Sikh and British traditions. Whether it is textiles, architecture, food, music, literature or art, Faisalabad, formerly k... 

CityScapes- Where did this art tradition come from? In recent times, urban landscapes or more appropriately, urban cityscapes have emerged as a significant trend which no modern or contemporary artist would be unaware of. The impressionists Claude... 

Our collection of paintings on Arab delights primarily feature Sufis and their dances. In order to understand the depth of these paintings, it is vital that one primarily gets acquainted with the concept of Sufism and what it is all about. Sufi... 

Our collection of paintings on Arab delights primarily feature Sufis and their dances. In order to understand the depth of these paintings, it is vital that one primarily gets acquainted with the concept of Sufism and what it is all about. Sufi... 

In the month of August Corporate Art Task Force held a contest on Literary Abstract Art. The theme was innovative and intriguing and we received a myriad of exciting entries catering to the said theme. The competition was rigorous. Yet the best of t... 

Mosques- Islamic Architecture Islamic architecture is the story of art and building styles going back to the early origins of Islam and making their way to the present day. Islamic architecture is a very diverse and versatile term which takes its in... 

Islamic Motifs What are Islamic Motifs? Geometric patterns tend to be an intrinsic aspect of Islamic art, since it seeks t... 

Rajasthani Art and Culture The culture of Rajasthan is among one of the most colorful, vivid and vibrant cultures that can be found across South Asia. Its artistic and cultural traditions are deeply entrenched in Ancient India and its lifestyle. ... 

Monet very eloquently states that all great artists have been impressionists in one way or the other since impressionism is nothing other than direct sensation. However, it spruced up a modern movement as early as the 1860s. Initially, it gathere... 

There are several well defined genres of art with historical references as evidence such as abstract art, pop art, figurative art etc. However, there is still no single well-defined genre outlining "Islamic" Art. Is there such a thing as "Islamic" Ar...