Muhammad Ali Talpur
Welcome to the March issue
Welcome to the March/ April issue
Ramadan arrives each year with a quiet insistence on reflection. It is therefore fitting that this March–Apr [...]
Beyond the Script
A number of invitation cards of calligraphy exhibitions start arriving as soon as the holy month of Ramzan begins. Although calligraphy has b [...]
To view the calligraphers of Balochistan is to witness a profound paradox: a collection of voices as distinct as the province’s jagged terrain, yet all bound by a shared, singular spirituality. There is always that startling softness inherent to this mystical art juxtaposed with an aesthetic drawn from the inhospitable harshness all around. Be [...]
In our living room there’s a pair of framed pressed peepal leaves upon which Quranic verses are beautifully inscribed. If you walk into any Pakistani household, you will likely find a framed verse hanging above a sofa, often in thick gold ornamental frame. Calligraphy has become part of the domestic visual language, as familiar as patterned cu [...]
Beyond the Word: The Calligraphic Abstractions of Mohammad Ali Talpur
Some people possess the enviable ability to laugh at themselves. They understand the absurdity of taking life, and especially oneself, too seriously. Such people move through [...]
Arabic calligraphy has occupied a central position in Islamic art since the emergence of Islam, shaping not only devotional practices but also the broader aesthetic language of Muslim societies. Across centuries, it has been revered as a sacred and disciplined art form, deeply embedded in cultural and spiritual life. Over time, this rich t [...]
Romantic Provocations was an exhibition that traveled to different cities, starting in Karachi and culminating in Lahore at the LLF early this year. This project connected art, science, politics, and shared stories. Rohma Khan, an artist known for her innovative ideas, curated the exhibition, which explored and created discussions between vari [...]
Performance is not (and never was) a medium, not something that an artwork can be but rather a set of questions and concerns about how art relates to people and the wider social world’, describes theorist Jonah Westerman. To fully understand performance art, he says, we must look at where it happens, what it brings and how the spatial situatio [...]
Karachi Biennale’s Curtain Raiser
Convened by Amin Gulgee, a trustee of the Karachi Biennale, and the Curator of the KB27, Noor Ahmed, the evening began with conversation. KB’s ne [...]
Chalta Phirta Doc Film Festival in Karachi
On the 10th and 11th of January 2026, the 4th edition of the Chalta Phirta Doc Film Festival (CPDF) arrived in Karachi, transforming Nani Ghar (CFAW) [...]
Gerd Hamayi: A Collective Reflection on Time, Memory, and Artistic Becoming
Curated by Maryam Irfan, Gerd Hamayi, its title drawn from the Persian word for “gathering”, is an evocative reunion of the National College of A [...]
Lahore Biennale Foundation Introduces Nav Haq as Curator for LB04
The Lahore Biennale Foundation (LBF) officially announced the curator for the fourth edition of the Lahore Biennale at a press launch held in the [...]