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    Doppelgänger: Unique Artworks at Khaas Gallery

    Doppelganger Art Exhibition on 29th September 2015 at Khaas Art Gallery

    Written by: Amna Javed
    Posted on: October 01, 2015 |

    'Lost Inside Myself' - Madiha Hyder's take on the Doppelganger

    A conceptual art exhibition titled 'Doppelgänger' opened here at the Khaas Art Gallery on Tuesday, 29th September 2015. Curated by Aasim Akhtar, a renowned art critic, the exhibition features the works of twelve artists, all of whom had uniquely interpreted the ‘doppelgänger’ on their canvases.

    In western anthropological studies, the German word ‘doppelgänger’ is commonly understood as ‘the double’, while in the world of mythology and folklore, the concept of the “double” is unquestionably related to the dark side, as it represents duality in its most perplexing and sinister aspect: the twin as a monstrous or metamorphic duplicate of its original. A more compelling idea related to the double involves the risk that the duplicate will overwhelm and consume the powers of the entity that it originates from. Leaving a lingering doubt about the figure’s reality, the doppelgänger does seem identical, but it is debatable whether or not the doppelgänger is a separate entity.

    At the exhibition, Aasim Akhtar brought together several artists who intricately portrayed different possible outcomes of the phenomenon. The featured artists included Maria Khan, Naira Mushtaq, Amra Khan, Madiha Hyder, Sheraz Faisal, Inaam Zafar, Anas Ghauri, Sana Kazi, Alia Bilgrami, Scheherezade Junejo, Nadia Batool Hussain and Haider Ali Jan.

    Sana Kazi's 'The Kingdom of God is Within You'

    Sana Kazi's 'The Kingdom of God is Within You'

    Whereas the majority of the artists had painted individuals to reflect their thoughts, Alia Bilgrami’s paintings were in the abstract. One of her paintings, titled Consumed, depicted a red tulip gradually being taken over by its black doppelgänger, while the The Double Game’ was primarily a game where the viewer was challenged to find each tulip’s doppelgänger.

    These artistic renditions of the “double” theme captivated a wide audience that consisted of art lovers from all around the city. “These are absolutely remarkable,” commented Khadijah, an art student, while admiring Sana Kazi’s ‘The Kingdom of God is within You’.

    Art enthusiast admiring Scheherezade Junejo's 'Bilateral'

    Art enthusiast admiring Scheherezade Junejo's 'Bilateral'

    Aasim Akhtar, the curator, notes that “as a metamorphic twin, the double appears to embody the most powerful aspects of the strange conflictual bond that unites twins, making them firm but often unwilling partners in both life and death”.

    Through this exhibition, Aasim managed to bring a unique idea to art enthusiasts from the capital, and the paintings on display are a visual treat for everyone. The exhibition will continue at the Khaas Art Gallery till 12th October 2015.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021