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'{{short description|Pakistani artist}} {{Multiple issues| {{Undisclosed paid|date=September 2023}}{{Autobiography|date=September 2023}}{{unreliable sources|date=April 2024}}}} {{Infobox artist | name= Sanki King | image= Sanki King portrait.jpg | image_size= | caption= King in 2015 | birth_name= Abdullah Ahmed Khan | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1990}} | birth_place = [[Jeddah, Saudi Arabia]] | nationality = Pakistani | field = [[Graffiti]], [[Public art]], [[Stenciling]], [[Parkour]], [[Bboying]] | website = {{URL|http://sankiking.com}} }} '''Abdullah Ahmed Khan''' ({{lang-ur|{{nq|عبداللہ احمد خان}}}}, born 1990)<ref name="Tribune Sad">Qamar, Saadia (July 30, 2012), [http://tribune.com.pk/story/415014/sanki-kings-graffiti-knows-no-boundaries Sanki King’s graffiti knows no boundaries], ''[[The Express Tribune]]''.</ref> professionally known as '''Sanki''' or '''Sanki King''' ({{lang-ur|{{nq|سنکی}}}} {{IPAc-en|audio=Sanki-pronunciation.ogg|pron|s|ʌ|n|k|i:}}) is a [[Pakistani]] artist who is considered one of the pioneers of [[graffiti]] and [[calligraffiti]] in Pakistan. He is also renowned for sneaker art, [[sticker art]], [[b-boying]] and [[parkour]].<ref name="Tribune Sad" /><ref name="DAWN">Nasir Ahmad, Fouzia (December 22, 2013), [http://www.dawn.com/news/1075610/dont-call-me-banksy Don't call me Banksy], ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN]]''.</ref><ref name="ZM">Mustefa, Zab (July 22, 2012), [http://tribune.com.pk/story/409946/street-smart Street Smart, Cover story], ''[[The Express Tribune]]''.</ref><ref name="Youlin">Ahmed, Talha (January 22, 2014)[http://www.youlinmagazine.com/youth-detail.php?pageid=youth&articleid=MjQ= 'SANKI' COLORS IT ALL: THE FIRST GRAFFITI ARTIST OF PAKISTAN], ''Youlin Magazine''.</ref> In 2021, King made history by becoming the first Pakistani artist to exhibit at the [[Louvre Abu Dhabi]] Museum and one of the youngest Pakistani artists in the world to be doing a museum show. He was also the youngest artist in the show. The exhibition, titled "Abstraction and Calligraphy − Towards a Universal Language" was the inaugural show for the museum's 3rd season and King's work was one of the two biggest installations in the exhibition.<ref name="LPoetry">, 'Shama' (Flame) [https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/en/Whats-Online/poetry/poetry-recitals/section-1 Biography of Sanki King], [[Louvre Abu Dhabi]]</ref><ref name="LADADM">Arts & Culture (February 3, 2021), [https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/arts-culture/lad-first-2021-exhibition-features-abstract-masterpieces/ Abstraction and Calligraphy – Towards a Universal Language: Louvre Abu Dhabi’s first 2021 exhibition features abstract masterpieces in dialogue, exploring a universal language of text and image], Abu Dhabi Media Office</ref> Since early 2010, King has produced monumental graffiti & calligraffiti murals around Pakistan, works in 8 languages & in his own hieroglyphic writing system, associating elements of traditional [[calligraphy]] with [[street art]] techniques. He started exhibiting his work in galleries in 2016 with a sold-out solo show at Sanat Gallery, Karachi: he was a major part of the first Karachi Biennale in 2017 & an Abraaj Art Prize 2017 nominee.<ref name="LPoetry" /> ==Early life== King was born in 1990 in [[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. His father worked at the [[Islamic Development Bank]].<ref name="Youlin"/> Moving from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Karachi as a child, Sanki grew up with three languages, Arabic, Urdu and English.<ref name="DawnMar" /> Growing up, he got inspired by the American graffiti & hip-hop culture of the 80s & 90s through the internet, and at home he was inspired by his father, who spoke 19 languages & regularly wrote the Qur’an by hand. His father encouraged him to paint and draw from an early age which sparked his interest in learning different languages & traditional Arabic & Persian calligraphy.<ref name="LPoetry" /> King is a self-taught artist whose talent emerged at an early age. After the loss of his mother at the age of nine, his father would buy him coloured pencils and colouring books so that the boy could express his feelings. Both his art teachers and father encouraged him to pursue art. In school, during art classes, he was the only student allowed to paint according to his wishes, while the class got on with copying. “As a child, I couldn’t stop doodling. When I was eight, my sister was studying zoology and I loved the pictures in her books. When I was nine, there were erasers that you could get with pictures of dinosaurs on them. I would make them in my art book and other books, which we really weren’t allowed to do. We were only allowed to draw what they wanted us to draw. One day my art teacher must have spotted something about my drawings so I was the only one in class allowed to draw whatever I liked in my art book.".<ref name="DAWN"/><ref name="DawnMar">Husain, Marjorie (June 12, 2016), [http://www.dawn.com/news/1264084/portfolio-the-writing-on-the-wall Portfolio: The writing on the wall], ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN]]''.</ref> While playing [[Counter-Strike Online|Counter-Strike]] as a teenager, another player described him as ‘Sanki’<ref name="DAWN" /> (eccentric, slightly mad) and he adopted it as his moniker. The artist claims it also means 'deep thinker'.<ref name="artnow" /> At 15, he further delved into rapping, DJing, b-boying, and parkour & along with graffiti in several languages, experimented with portraiture, sneaker art, custom clothing & stencil art; later developing a strong practice in calligraffiti. He was also interested in [[BMX]], boxing and floor gymnastics.<ref name="Youlin"/><ref name="artnow"/> ==Career== From 2011, he became a professional artist, selling artwork and painting commissioned murals, and in March 2012 started his studio where he works {{as of|May 2015|lc=yes}}.<ref name="artnow"/> In 2013, when he was quickly moving towards more monumental pieces, he joined the American Beyond Mankind Krew (BMK), established in New York. In 2014, he produced his first “calligraffiti”, associating elements of traditional Arab calligraphy with street art techniques. Influenced by the Arab oral tradition, Sanki King includes quotations, diary entries, literary extracts, and poetry in his works. ===Graffiti=== [[File:Cafe in Zamzama.jpg|thumb|right|Sanki next to his painting in a cafe in [[Zamzama]], [[Karachi]], June 2011]] [[File:Remember me?.png|thumb|right|First art sticker created by Sanki King which features the founder of [[Pakistan]], [[Mohammad Ali Jinnah]]]] {{quote box|align=right|width=20%|“[I] don’t want to be a second Banksy, I want to be the first Sanki!”.|—King on being called the "[[Banksy]] of Pakistan"<ref name="DAWN"/>}} Sanki did "live graffiti art" for the first time in Pakistan in July 2012 and in the same month launched his Sticker Art Movement through designs which feature [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], the founder of Pakistan.<ref name="Tribune Sad"/> In December 2012, he was chosen as the judge for a nationwide graffiti competition spread across seven cities.<ref name="TheNation">Staff Reporter (December 23, 2012), [https://www.nation.com.pk/23-Dec-2012/tetra-pak-competition-s-winners-announced Tetra Pak Graffiti Competition], ''[[The Nation]]''.</ref> Some of his well-known works include ''Love Karachi'' on a bus and another, titled ''Flying Kiss'' which he painted outside the [[Arts Council of Pakistan]] in 2013. He painted the tallest graffiti in Pakistan in 2014 at the Valika Cricket Ground, University of Karachi.His creations can be seen in the areas [[Nazimabad]], [[North Nazimabad]], [[Zamzama]] and [[Clifton, Karachi|Clifton]] outside the Sanat Gallery, painted at the opening of his very first solo exhibition, "You should know him by now", on the 4th of June 2016.<ref name="WOTS">A Correspondent(June 9, 2016) [http://tribune.com.pk/story/1119044/word-street-bringing-graffiti-art-mainstream/ Word on the street: Bringing graffiti art into mainstream], ''[[The Express Tribune]]''.</ref><ref name="PakFirst">Khan, Nimra (June 10, 2016), [http://images.dawn.com/news/1175552/pakistans-first-serious-graffiti-artist-sanki-king-enters-the-art-world-with-his-solo-exhibit Pakistan's First Serious Graffiti Artist Sanki King Enters The Art World With His First Exhibit], ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN]]''.</ref> King is the only Pakistani artist to have been invited to graffiti crews Beyond Mankind Krew (BMK, founded 1991, [[Queens]], [[New York City]]) and Experienced Vandals (Ex-Vandals, founded 1979, [[Brooklyn]]). Ex-Vandals is one of the first graffiti crews in the world.<ref name="Youlin" /><ref name="HOP">A Correspondent (June 30, 2015), [http://www.houseofpakistan.com/pakistani-street-artist-sanki-king-featured-in-nicholas-granz-street-messages/ Multi-talented Pakistani Street Artist 'Sanki King' excels nationally and achieves international recognition as well!], ''House of Pakistan''.</ref> Sanki's work is featured in Nicholas Ganz’s book, ''Street Messages'', published in April 2015.<ref name="artnow">Subzwari, Shanzay (May, 2015), [https://www.artnowpakistan.com/sanki-king-the-graffiti-artist-mastermind/ Sanki King: The Graffiti Artist Mastermind], ''ArtNow Magazine''.</ref><ref name="HOP" /><ref name="TribSad">Qamar, Saadia (April 17, 2015), [http://www.tribune.com.pk/story/871127/from-shadowy-times-to-vivid-walls From shadowy times to vivid walls], ''[[The Express Tribune]]''.</ref> In 2017, he collaborated with Mumbai-based artist Zeenat Kulavoor for Urdu calligraphic conversation project ''Pehle Aap''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jahangir|first=Ramsha|date=2017-11-02|title=Conversations close to the heart adorn walls in India, Pakistan|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1367862|access-date=2020-06-16|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-14|title=Why is the art of Urdu calligraphy dying?|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/why-is-the-art-of-urdu-calligraphy-dying/18579150|access-date=2020-06-15|website=mid-day|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-25|title=Drawing their communities together|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/books-education/drawing-their-communities-together-1502534927.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=The Statesman|language=en-US}}</ref> He also participated in Karachi Biennale 2017 with his work ''Mind Palace''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 'SANKI KING' of Karachi's Graffiti Art {{!}} Interview - MAG THE WEEKLY|url=http://www.magtheweekly.com/detail/1164-the-sanki-king-of-karachis-graffiti-art|access-date=2020-06-16|website=www.magtheweekly.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Reel On Hai: Initiating Discourse through Public Art - Nageen Shaikh - Youlin Magazine|url=https://www.youlinmagazine.com/story/karachi-biennale-reel-on-hai/Nzcx|access-date=2020-06-16|website=www.youlinmagazine.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sanki King|url=http://www.kbcuratorial.com/artists/sanki-king|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Karachi Biennale 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Zubair|first=Hamna|date=2017-11-03|title=10 provocative exhibits at the Karachi Biennale that you must see right now|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1178700|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Images|language=en}}</ref> ===Custom-painting and fashion=== Sanki King is known for his [[graffiti]] art designs for [[sneakers]], using [[paint]], [[marker pen]]s and [[stencils]].<ref name="Tribune Sad"/> He now runs his own company making custom-painted sneakers and apparel, as well as organizing dance and graffiti workshops.<ref name="HOP" /> In 2014, Sanki worked for the first time with a local designer brand Zeb-Tan. He collaborated with The House of Arsalan Iqbal for the collection ‘Desirably Distressed’, which came out in March 2015. He said, “In 2012, I painted a shutter in Arsalan Iqbal’s store. Since Iqbal travels a lot, he finds graffiti very inspiring. Then in May 2014 we worked on a collaborative venture for the next 10 months” <ref name="TribSad" /> ===B-boying and parkour=== In 2008, Sanki started his career as a professional performing artist after being photographed by [[Tapu Javeri]] while [[freerunning]] in a park in Karachi, later performing at the launch of [[Style 360]]. In 2008, King began a [[b-boying]] crew in Karachi who organized as Unknown Crew (UC) in 2010. They have performed for [[Jaag TV]] (previously known as CNBC Pakistan), [[HP Inc]], [[Caltex]], [[Play TV (Pakistan)|Play TV]], [[Lux Style Awards]] and a number of music videos.<ref name="DAWN" /><ref name="HOP" /> ==Personal life== Sanki King lives and works in [[Karachi]].<ref name="HOP" /> ==See also== * [[List of street artists]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Sources== * {{cite web |url=http://www.artnowpakistan.com/you-should-know-him-by-now/ |title=You Should Know Him By Now |last=Jabbar |first=Ammara |date=July 1, 2016 |website=ArtNow Pakistan }} * {{cite news |last=Zuberi |first=Nadeem |date=June 18, 2016 |title=ART FACTS: Exploring graffiti's charm |url=http://www.brecorder.com/weekend-magazine/0/58120/ |newspaper=[[Business Recorder]] }} * {{cite news |last=Husain |first=Marjorie |date=June 12, 2016 |title=Portfolio: The writing on the wall |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1264084/portfolio-the-writing-on-the-wall |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN]] }} * {{cite news |last=Salman |first=Peerzada |date=June 7, 2016 |title=We Should Know Him By Now |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1263188 |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN]] }} * {{cite news |last=Shaikh |first=Umer |date=June 6, 2016 |title=Words On Walls Are Read More Than Those In Books |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/125547-Words-on-walls-are-read-more-than-those-in-books |newspaper=[[The News International]] }} * {{cite web |url=http://islamic-arts.org/2015/calligraffiti/ |title=Calligraffiti Art |last=Kozak |first=Janet |date=June 9, 2015 |website=Islamic Arts and Architecture }} ;Books * {{cite book |last=Halai Khwaja & Kazim Thompson |first=Masuma & Ambareen|date=2017 |title= Public Art: Thriving in Karachi's Urban Chaos |location=Karachi, Pakistan |publisher=FK SQUARED |isbn=9789699877179}} * {{cite book |last=Vayani |first=Raisa |date=2017 |title= A Reel on Karachi |url=http://www.pakistancables.com/pc/khi/magazine/slider.html |location=Karachi, Pakistan |publisher=Pakistan Cables Limited|isbn=9789699251979}} * {{cite book |last=Initiative |first=Sanat |date=November 2, 2016 |title= The First 50 |location=Karachi, Pakistan |publisher= Sanat Publications }} * {{cite book |last=Ganz |first=Nicholas |date=April 1, 2015 |title= Street Messages |url=http://www.thamesandhudson.com/The_Stuff_You_Cant_Bottle/9780500290750 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |publisher=Dokument Press|isbn=9789185639731}} * {{cite book |last=Adz |first=King |date=May 1, 2013 |title= The Stuff You Can't Bottle |url=http://www.thamesandhudson.com/The_Stuff_You_Cant_Bottle/9780500290750 |location=New York, USA |publisher=Thames & Hudson |isbn=9780500290750}} ==External links== *{{Official website|https://sankiking.com}} *[http://www.facebook.com/realsankiking Facebook] {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:King, Sanki}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Pakistani graffiti artists]] [[Category:1990 births]] [[Category:Pakistani contemporary artists]] [[Category:21st-century Pakistani painters]] [[Category:Artists from Karachi]] [[Category:Traceurs]] [[Category:Pakistani painters]] [[Category:Pakistani artists]] [[Category:Calligraffiti artists]]'