Friday, April 1, 2016
6:00 – 7:30 pm
Habib University
Abstract
The first ever Karachi Art Biennale will bring the best of art from Pakistan, the region and beyond, to public spaces in the city. What does that mean for the city, and us?
Join us for a conversation on what is in store for Karachi’s first art biennale, the need for an extensive public outreach programme around it, and how students at Habib University can be a part of this.
ABOUT THE KARACHI ART BIENNALE
The First Karachi Art Biennale will have participating artists respond to the theme of Witness, to evoke the contradictions and ambiguities of our time at exhibitions, site-specific interventions, a multiplicity of discursive platforms and community interaction that reaches the core of the city. By taking art to mohallas and institutions, via radio, television and print media, Karachi Biennale aims to engage at least a quarter of the population over several months. Public art projects and outreach programmes in schools, colleges and communities will be planned in months leading up to the Biennale.
Speakers
Masuma Halai Khwaja has been an art educator for over two decades and has taught at the NCA, Lahore, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi and the Karachi University’s Visual Studies Department. A practicing artist, Masuma has four solo shows, and several awards, to her credit. Currently, she is part of the core committee of The Karachi Biennale 2017, and in charge of its public outreach programme.
Niilofur Farrukh is an art critic, art historian, curator, art educator and art activist. Her book, Pioneering Perspectives (Ferozsons Pvt Ltd) was published in 2006 and since then she has contributed to publications. She is the Founder Editor of NuktaArt, a contemporary art magazine, and is currently working on a collection of essays on Meher Afroz. Niilofur has served on the Advisory Committee of the State Bank Museum, Karachi and Curatorial Committee of National Art Gallery, Islamabad. She is a nominator of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize (Dubai) in Pakistan and serves on the Board of Colombo Art Biennale. She has also served as Pakistan’s Commissioner at The Asian Art Biennale (Bangladesh) (2006), Tashkent Art Biennale (Uzbekistan) (2009) and Kathmandu International Art Festival. She is the Co-founder and Co-curator of ASNA Clay Triennial, Karachi.
