This lecture will offer a comprehensive exploration of the development of art in Pakistan from 1947 to the present day. Beginning with the early post-Partition years, Waheeda Baloch will trace how artists navigated questions of national identity, heritage, and modernity while responding to the cultural and political realities of a newly formed state.
Moving into the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the lecture will address the rise of contemporary art in Pakistan and its increasing visibility on the international stage. Waheeda will discuss how artists engage with themes such as identity, memory, urbanization, gender, ecological challenges, conflict, and social justice. She will also explore how experimental mediums—performance, video art, installation, digital practices, and socially engaged art—have transformed the landscape of artistic expression.
Drawing on her own curatorial experience, including the Karachi Biennale and global collaborations, Waheeda will provide insight into the current ecosystem of Pakistani contemporary art: the role of biennales, galleries, residencies, and international networks; the challenges and opportunities for artists today; and the ways in which Pakistan’s vibrant art scene contributes to broader conversations within the Global South.
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Waheeda Baloch is a Professor at the Institute of Art and Design at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan. She is a leading curator and the founder of ArtFest Karachi—an annual platform hosted by the Sambara Art Gallery under the Sindh Culture Department. A curatorial graduate of Stockholm University, she brings strong academic grounding and a research-driven approach to her work.
In 2024, she became the first woman to curate the fourth edition of the Karachi Biennale, presenting the compelling theme “Rizq | Risk.” The exhibition explored food security, climate challenges, sustainability, and social justice through an interdisciplinary lens. Waheeda also serves as an adviser to KADIST and the KADIST Collection, contributing to program development and acquisitions that support artists from Pakistan and beyond.
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