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    Karachi Art Galleries: Giving a Voice to Budding Pakistani Artists

    VM Art Gallery and Sanat Art Gallery, Karachi

    Written by: Nageen Shaikh
    Posted on: October 26, 2016 | | 中文

    'Under the Dust', a recent exhibition by artist Saud Baloch at Sanat Initiative

    In recent years, Pakistani artists and designers have been making headlines on national as well as international platforms. The heart of this development has been the vibrant city of Karachi, which has witnessed an explosion of art galleries, residencies, artist programs and biennales, all stemming from the aim to promote local art and culture. Efforts by non-profit organizations dedicated to historic and cultural preservation, such as The Citizens Archive of Pakistan, as well as art initiatives including Canvas Gallery, Vasl Residency, Art Chowke, Chawkandi Art, Koel, and Studio Seven have been met with a highly encouraging response from art critics and the public alike. In this regard, two institutions are particularly noteworthy: the famous VM Art Gallery, and the more recent Sanat Initiative.

    VM Art Gallery and Sanat Art Gallery, Karachi

    VM Art Gallery

    VM Art Gallery is a not-for-profit art space that is part of the Rangoonwala Trust, which has also been running the Rangoonwala Community Centre, an institution specializing in vocational training since 1971. The director and main curator of the gallery is Riffat Alvi, one of Pakistan’s most distinguished painters. Situated in the central area of KDA Scheme near Tariq Road, VM Art Gallery is designed exclusively to promote emerging artists and designers, and to provide a platform where they can exhibit their works for the public through the gallery’s annual Emerging Talent/Art Exhibition.

    VM Art Gallery and Sanat Art Gallery, Karachi
     

    Zeenat Rizvi, a recent Fine Art graduate from the University of Karachi with a talented art cohort, has exhibited her work at VM Art Gallery multiple times, and was a participant of the Emerging Art Exhibitions a few years ago. “VM is one of the few art galleries in Pakistan that actively promote and exhibit work by our emerging talent every year”, says Zeenat. With its inclusionary approach to art, VM has created a space for itself in the Pakistani art industry. The most recent show at the gallery was held by a group of talented artists whose alma mater is the renowned University of Karachi. Titled ‘Transitions – Renderings of Time’, the exhibition won acclaim from critics as well as art enthusiasts in the city.

    The more recent Sanat Initiative, which opened in 2014, is an art studio that aims to promote dialogue between artists and interested audiences on an international scale. It also conducts collaborative research projects and an artist residency that provides a productive art forum. The Sanat Residency, conducted in 2014-2015, saw a group show aimed at fostering healthy interaction between artists and the society. The purpose of an art residency is to bring talented artists together for an interactive dialogue. By actually living in the space provided by the residency, the artists work on their projects either individually or as a group on themes that are discussed throughout the course of the residency. It concludes with a show that brings out the final works of the artists and connects them with an audience for feedback.

    VM Art Gallery and Sanat Art Gallery, Karachi

    Engagement with students at Sanat Initiative

    Sanat Initiative’s art projects and residency have received critical acclaim, as they touch upon a variety of pertinent themes related to Pakistan’s social, economic and political background. Qualified artists working with Sanat Initiative have credited the institution as highly professional in its practices, with a productive approach towards artists and the public. The upcoming show at Sanat, scheduled to open in the first week of November, will feature a collection of unique artworks by Muhammad Atif Khan. Titled Gardenscape, it will be Sanat Gallery’s 50th exhibition since its launch back in June 2014.

    VM Art Gallery and Sanat Art Gallery, Karachi

    Sanat Initiative (photo: Jamal Ashiqain)

    With increasing public interest in art projects by independent galleries and collaborations of organizations with talented individuals, public art and curatorial projects are gaining widespread recognition in Karachi. However, despite these encouraging endeavors, which bring out the best of the country’s aesthetics, art organizations and forums still need to work on their accessibility and the feasibility that they create for local artists.

    Many artists and designers still find it taxing to reach out to these platforms due to a host of reasons. These include a lack of personal resources, their socio-economic backgrounds, and in some cases the nature of their work, which might not be in the best interest of current trends. Some artists find the lack of a productive environment and the purely commercial motives of certain art institutions to be problematic and disturbing for their career growth. Many artists also find themselves handicapped without proper representatives, agents or channels to route them towards art galleries and institutions. In this regard, these platforms, both old and new, must take action to facilitate budding artists and designers, so that people from all backgrounds are granted fair and equal access to online and physical art spaces.


    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