LAHORE: The Comomuseum is going to show works of 40 artists from Pakistan and one each from India, Iran, Iraq and two artists from the UK who have come together for a groundbreaking exhibition at the museum. The exhibition will open at 5pm on Sunday (today) and it will remain on display till Jan 30.

Based on the premise that all artists’ endeavours should be seen in the context of their time, the exhibition seizes this pivotal moment in history to address the Palestinian genocide – a horror that has encountered denial and indifference. The works in this exhibition document artists’ responses not only to the horror of our time but also the turmoil and massacres concealed in our past.

The artists in the exhibition, titled Dhar Dhar Dharti Dharke Gi, span generations and mediums.

The exhibition is curated by Salima Hashmi.

The participating artists include Adeela Suleman, Ali Kazim, Ali Laraib Rizvi, Ali Raza, Ammar Faiz, Ardeshir Mohasses, Awais Naqvi, Dia Al Azzawi, Faiza Butt, Farida Batool, Farrukh Adnan, Fawad Jafri, Feroza Hakeem, Haider Ali Jan, Hassan Shiekh, Hina Tabasum, Ijazul Hassan, Imran Qureshi, Kayla, Layla Claudia Smith, Maheen Kazim, Mariyam Ibraaz, Marria Khan, Mizna Zulfiqar, Moona Fazal, Muzzumil Ruheel, Naiza Khan, Naazish Ataullah, Quddus Mirza, Rabbania Sharjeel, Rashid Rana, Shehnaz Ismail, Sheraz Faisal, Shujaul Haq, Sophia Balagamwala, Sophiya Khawaja, Sousan Qadeer, Sumbul Natalia, Vivan Sundaram and Waleed Zafar.

visual artist: An enthusiastic crowd of over 70 people came together at the Alhamra Museum of Modern Art in Gulberg to hear acclaimed artist R.M. Naeem discussing his art practice and role as an educationist.

Mirpurkhas-born Naeem graduated from the National College of Arts in 1993, returning to his alma mater as an associate professor in 2019. Having shown his work at various national and international forums, including prestigious art fairs, Naeem made his impact on Pakistan’s contemporary art landscape through his commentary on identity, religion and a sense of place.

In a 50-minute conversation with Naeem, art curator Saulat Ajmal navigated Naeem’s body of work as images of his artwork ran on the LED screens. The event concluded with a lively Q&A segment involving the audience.

Exploring the themes and guiding principles in Naeem’s works, Ajmal evoked for the audience a sense of Naeem’s nurturing in Mirpurkhas and how he reconciled, through his visual language, with the wider truths beyond a communal understanding of the world.

Moreover, Naeem also dwelled on the power dynamics within families, particularly siblings, highlighting societal expectations of an elder sibling’s role in a household and beyond. His multi-plane canvases, drawing upon the world of emotion, reflect his unwillingness to conform to scripted representations.

With the dramatic backdrop of the Alhamra Museum’s Lahore Art Circle collection, Naeem and Ajmal’s conversation drew the audience into an informal, accessible and interactive circle where learning becomes less hierarchical.

Prominent artists and educationists like Salima Hashmi, Quddus Mirza, Ali Kazim and Lahore Arts Council Chairman Razi Ahmed were present.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2024