Written by: Aiman Javed
Posted on: March 13, 2019 | 
Illustration by Aisha Khawar
A digital illustration exhibition titled ‘Free from Fear’ was launched at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), on 11th March, 2019, by Oxfam in Pakistan. Oxfam, a non-profit confederation, has been active in Pakistan since 1973, with gender justice as one of the key points of their manifesto.
A few months earlier, a competition was conducted under Oxfam’s 16 Days of Activism, which encouraged participants to tackle the subjects of violence and harassment of women on public transport and in public spaces. Students of Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture (IVS), University of Karachi (KU), National College of Arts (NCA Rawalpindi), Centre for Excellence and Design (Jamshoro), COMSATS, Beaconhouse National University (BNU) and Iqra University, responded to the theme ‘Free from Fear’ with 100 submissions. The jury, consisting of digital artist Shezil Malik, cartoonist Nigar Nazar and filmmaker Samar Minallah selected 21 posters, currently displayed at PNCA.
H.E. Margaret Adamson, High Commissioner of Australia to Pakistan, was chief guest at the opening ceremony, and on recognizing the success of the exhibition, floated the idea of turning it into a “travelling exhibition.”
The winning work by Eshal Javed Malik (IVS) consisted of a female skateboarder, dressed in a traditional frock (worn in Northern Areas) and dupatta, paired with jeans and sneakers. Headphones in her ears and a cigarette in hand, she was shown as skating in front of a wall of misogynistic slogans, without a care for the world. The work asserted women’s right to occupy public spaces, and highlighted how ordinary activities for boys are often considered ‘rebellious’ for girls.
Aasma Qureshi’s (Jamshoro) multi-layered digital work, which won her the second prize, showed a girl painting a mural of another girl holding books. The work engaged with women’s right to participate in public dialogue through art, while highlighting their right to education. Through the symbol of a collapsing wall, Qureshi depicted women as breaking down barriers through art and education.
Runners up included Areeba Haseeb (KU), Aisha Khawar (NCA, Rawalpindi), Ameenah Mansoor (IVS) and Maha Faisal Sheikh (IVS). My personal favourite was Areeba Haseeb’s heart-warming illustration of a mother and daughter, riding a motorcycle on the streets during the celebrations of Independence Day. She intended to highlight how numerous women can’t travel without a male guardian, due to safety concerns such as harassment. During local festivals, while men enjoy roaming around the city, single women cannot exercise this basic right.
Aisha Khawar’s poster reflected upon how women cannot be reduced to mere symbols. The girl in her illustration is using a laptop while seated on a charpoy, with her motorbike parked behind her. Dressed in ripped jeans with a duppata on her head, her confident posture and the slogans tattooed on her body, paint her as a fearless woman who challenges the panchayat (an old practice of judging legal cases through a jury of village/tribal elders instead of taking the case to court).
Ameenah Mansoor focuses on a lone girl riding a bicycle – a cost-effective and environmentally friendly vehicle - through the thin alleyways of an old city. Her interaction with a female vendor is a visual that conveys a sense of safety, and camaraderie among women. The work reveals that in safe spaces, women can commute independently and contribute to the economy.
Maha Faisal Sheikh has painted a woman confidently walking through a marketplace. The men surrounding her have their eyes and mouths taped shut, and their hands chained. The work reflects upon how sexual harassment such as catcalling, ogling and groping are basic barriers to the mobility of women.
Bina Sheraz (NCA), was awarded an honourable mention, and used her work to highlight violence against women by drawing a victim of physical abuse. Behind her character, the Pushtu words on the wall can be translated to, ‘I’ve broken the chains.’ Since the girl has shed her hair, as well as escaped her handcuffs, as she is shown rising against the shadow of an ominous gunman.
Other works ranged from the more complex to relatively simple ones, such as Yumna Qamar, Meesha Khan and Usama Attique’s work, which was a visual translation of ‘Free from Fear.’ Meanwhile, Mehreen Ahmed, Syeda Areeb-un-Nisa, Syed Fahad Ali Shah, Sana Hameed and Samiah Bilal engaged with issues of mobility, while Aiman Qureshi, Gaity Ara Khalid and Anusha Amjad illustrated the multiple responsibilities Pakistani women handle. Aruba Khalid and Duaa Khan raised questions about cultural norms, and Maham Shahid depicted how outer space can be a space for female freedom.
It was heartening to see how creative young artists, using digital technology, had tackled the topic of Free from Fear. With a blossoming of activism around the country on International Women’s Day, one hopes that the vision of a safer world for women, brilliantly illustrated by these artists, will one day turn into a reality.
The exhibition will continue till Saturday, 16th March, 2019.
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