Meeting Jimmy Engineer, the Artist, the Philanthropist, and a Light in the World.

Meeting Jimmy Engineer. "The Servant of Pakistan".

Meeting an artist is always a special moment for me. They express through the arts what humanity wants and should express through actions: love, life, passion, pain and beyond. Artists in all their forms of art are our way to appreciate our own existence and the meaning of life and love.

Meeting Jimmy Artist is a completely different experience. Deeper, meaningful and definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.?

“As I was meeting my esteemed friend, Anwar Hussein, Group CEO of Hamad Bin Khalifa Department of Projects (HBK DOP), from the Office of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan in Dubai, along with Sen. Dr. Robert J. Kasprzak, Ambassador-at-large of the UNASDG, where I am a member of the Security Council, Anwar?(who is also a senior member of UNASDG) mentioned Jimmy Engineer, while we were talking about arts, indigenous, tribal people and philanthropy.?

Since the moment Anwar talked about Jimmy Engineer, I was very impacted by what I heard and saw when appreciating some of his extraordinary paintings at the HBKDOP Family Office. The paintings alone brought me into a whole new experience of beauty, history, people, and humanity. They are profound, and every time I was looking at them, new emotions emerged from my soul. I tell you, it is a very moving experience.?

While learning more about the arts and life of this extraordinary man, as Anwar was explaining to me, his words took a more incredible turn, as this unique man and artist is a true light of humanity and philanthropy. Jimmy Engineer has dedicated his whole life to painting, selling his art and giving all to charities mostly to kids not only in Pakistan but across many nations including India.?

Then, a few minutes later, I learnt that Jimmy was in Dubai, and was coming to our office.?

Shahriar Sethna, a great and charming business person, and a close friend of Jimmy Engineer brought him to the office.?

Then, as they entered the office, a shining light was clearing the room. I am not kidding. I met Jimmy.?

His humbleness, extraordinary sense of humour, love for human beings, beyond borders, religion, politics or anything that divide us, was simply understood when talking to Jimmy.?

It was magical.?

Jimmy’s paintings are not cheap. They are valued not only for the incredible details, effect and beauty of each work but for what they stand and represent: Humanity; ever since Jimmy started, at a very young age, to paint, he has dedicated himself to serving the most needed and exposed. Jimmy invests all his painting sales for this purpose while living a very humble life.

His work has brought him around the world, getting recognition from world leaders, other artists, academics and politicians who recognize a true hero, a great artist and a humanity visionary.?

Anwar Hussein on Jimmy Engineer.

“If you have more of Everything, then share with those who have Nothing” - Jimmy Engineer

“I have been sent here,” said an unfamiliar man, in a dark shalwar kameez, as he sat there with a smile on his face.?

Just a regular day turned out to be one of the most important and enlightening days. While in a meeting with Mr. Anwar Hussein, he mentioned a man walking in a cage of Lions and Tigers, fearless and deity energy he described, it was impossible to believe until the man himself Mr. Jimmy Engineer was sitting in the same room with us.

“Who are you?” None of us asked but Jimmy read our faces. “I call myself the servant of Pakistan because that is what I am,” he said.

The room went silent when he spoke about his life. All minds together couldn’t reciprocate the experiences of his life. Jimmy, a Zoroastrian, hinted that a “transcendental power” had sent him. As simple as the man is, he has a strong aura and personality. He changed our entire perception of working and dedicating something to the world. The endless conversations have impacted us to such an extent that we left the room as different people with much better aspirations. And that is Jimmy Engineers' ultimate goal, to evolve the hearts of people to live in a better and more generous world.?

Jimmy Engineer is a man on the move, deriving energy as he says, “from nature,” and always on to the next appointment, wanting immediate results for his social work. This viewpoint is in complete contrast to his art persona, where he has no thought of finishing the work in a hurry or pleasing the market. The world of art is Engineer’s retreat, and there he creates a world of his own where all is in harmony with nature.

Given a second chance at life, Pakistani painter Jimmy Engineer repaid the miracle by living four different lives, as an artist, social worker, human rights and peace activist. His art is not confined to images on canvas as his canvas extends far beyond all that is material. He prefers to be acknowledged as a simple mortal who cares for the human kingdom with a passion. That passion has been waging a war within him for over forty years, alternately translating into coloured imagery or humane deeds to support miserable souls.

Proof of his skill as an artist rests in the 3000 (and increasing) pieces of art he has to his name. And his versatility as a person can be gauged by the extent of social services he has rendered to communities near and far. Jimmy may be an artist by profession with thousands of internationally recognized works, but his heart goes out to oppressed people and minorities everywhere.

Jimmy Engineer Artist and Social Worker was born on 13th August 1954 in Balochistan, Pakistan. His Parsi family could not have known then that he would grow up to break all barriers of caste and creed and truly define multi-ethnicity through his art and altruism. It was in 1976 that he turned into a professional painter, but his achievements went much beyond his artist's creativity when he discovered a deep love for all his fellow beings, especially for the downtrodden. His art pieces soon became expressions of truth, and his images began to speak of his compassion for the people he saw. Although an artist by profession, Jimmy Engineer's life has revolved around supporting troubled individuals and social work institutions, though he prefers to remain undocumented and unsung. His works have never failed to captivate successive generations of art lovers in Pakistan and abroad. His paintings are in private collections in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Italy, London, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Russia, Holland, Spain, Germany, Dubai, Jordan, India, China, Philippine, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Canada, USA, South Africa, Pakistan almost every part of the world. He has painted over 3000 paintings and more than 1000 calligraphies over 1500 drawings to his name besides the 700,000 prints in a private collection in more than 60 countries. He has held more than 80 art exhibitions in Pakistan and abroad. Led more than 100 walks for noble causes and has arranged more than 140 awareness programs for handicapped and orphan children. Artist and Social Worker Jimmy Engineer have received many awards and medals in his long illustrious Art and Social Work Career since 1976. He has received over 70 awards and medals of honour from Pakistan and abroad. No other Pakistani Artist has received so many Honours. For him to be a good human being is better than being a great artist.

We are glad to, soon, make a great announcement regarding Jimmy Engineer Arts and Philanthropy.

"What an honour meeting Jimmy Engineer".

Johan Obdola