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 [...]
At Ishara Art Foundation, Dubai, Urdu Worlds is a proposition: that language is a structure through which entire lifeworlds are imagined, inhabited and remembered. Curated by Hammad Nasar, who is presently Director of Programmes and Content at Ibraaz, London, the exhibition brings into resonant dialogue the practices of Ali Kazim and Zarina, t [...]
Quddus Mirza exhibited his latest collection of paintings in Karachi, with the solo showcase “New Works” opening at Canvas Gallery on April 8th. In his previous solo held in Dec 2023 at the same gallery, titled “Doubts, Dreams and Desires,” Quddus Mirza disclosed, “My art is a form of celebrating life and a means to mourn death”. The current s [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]